GIFT 
WAY    r;   1920 


PASTORAL  LETTER 


// 


OF  TTitt 


X3NTVERSITY| 


NATIONAL  CATHOLIC  WELFARE  COUNCIL 

1312  MASSACHUSETTS  AVE.,  N.  W. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


PASTORAL  LETTER 


OF  THE  ARCHBISHOPS  AND  BISHOPS  OF 

THE  UNITED  STATES  ASSEMBLED 

IN  CONFERENCE 


AT  THE 


CATHOLIC  UNIVERSITY  OF  AMERICA 


SEPTEMBER,  1919 


•  O  ,      >  .     9      J 


THE  NATIONAL  CATHOLIC  WELFARE  COUNCIL 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C, 

1920 


NATIONAL  CAPITAL  PRESS.  INC.,  WASMINOTON,  D.  C. 


PASTORAL  LETTER 

OF  THE  ARCHBISHOPS  AND  BISHOPS  OF  THE      • 

UNITED  STATES 

The  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  the  United  States  in  Conference 
assembled,  to  their  Clergy  and  faithful  people — Grace  unto 
you  and  peace  from  God  our  Father  and  from  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

Venerable  Brethren  of  the  Clergy, 
Beloved  Children  of  the  Laity  : 

Thirty-five  years  have  elapsed  since  the  Fathers  of  the  Third 
Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore  addressed  their  Pastoral  Letter  to 
the  faithful  of  their  charge.  In  it  they  expressed  their  deliberate 
thought  upon  the  state  of  religion  at  the  time,  upon  its  needs  and 
its  abundant  resources.  Surveying  the  growth  of  the  Church 
during  a  century,  they  saw  with  thankfulness  the  evident  design 
of  God  in  behalf  of  our  country;  and  turning  to  the  future,  they 
beheld  the  promise  of  a  still  more  fruitful  development.  With 
wise  enactment  and  admonition  they  imparted  ne^v  vigor  to  our 
Catholic  life.  With  a  foresight  which  we  can  now  appreciate, 
they  prepared  the  Church  in  America  to  meet,  on  the  solid  ground 
of  faith  and  discipline,  the  changing  conditions  of  our  earthly 
existence.  As  Pope  Leo  XIII  of  happy  memory  declared:  "the 
event  has  proven,  and  still  does  prove,  that  the  decrees  of  Balti- 
more were  wholesome  and  timely.  Experience  has  demonstrated 
their  value  for  the  maintenance  of  discipline,  for  stimulating  the 
intelligence  and  zeal  of  the  clergy,  for  protecting  and  developing 
the  Catholic  education  of  youth"  (EncyC.  Longinqua  oceani  spatia, 
Jan.  6,  1895). 

The  framers  of  that  legislation  were  men  of  power,  shewing 
forth  in  their  wisdom  the  dignity  of  prophets  and  instructing  the 
people  with  holy  words.  They  are  gone,  nearly  all,  to  their  rest 
and  reward ;  but  their  godly  deeds  have  not  failed.     They  have 

5 


6  P/STORAL  Letter 

left  us  a  sacred  inheritance ;  their  labors  are  held  in  remembrance 
and  their  names  in  benediction  forever. 

Following  the  example  of  our  predecessors,  and  like  them  trust- 
ing in  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  lately  took  counsel 
together  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church  and  of  our  country.  The 
whole  Hierarchy  of  the  United  States  assembled  in  W'^ashington, 
to  consider  the  problems,  the  needs  and  the  possibilities  for  good 
which  invite  us  to  new  undertakings.  In  the  record  of  the  last 
three  decades,  we  found  much  to  console  and  inspire  us.  We  also 
knew  well  that  you  with  whom  and  for  whom  we  have  labored, 
would  rejoice  in  considering  how  abundantly  God  has  blessed 
our  endeavors.  And  we  therefore  determined,  for  His  glory 
and  for  your  comfort,  to  point  out  the  significant  phases  in  our 
progress,  and  to  set  forth  the  truths  which  contain  the  solution 
of  the  world's  great  problems. 

This  course  we  adopted  the  more  hopefully  because  of  the 
approval  and  encouragement  given  us  by  our  Holy  Father,  Pope 
Benedict  XV,  in  the  Letter  which  he  sent  us  last  April.  Knowing 
how  deeply  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  is  concerned  for  the  restora- 
tion of  all  things  in  Christ,  and  how  confidently  he  looks  at  this 
time  to  the  Church  in  America,  we  felt  that  by  uniting  our  thought 
and  our  effort  we  should  cooperate,  in  the  measure  of  our  oppor- 
tunity, toward  his  beneficent  purpose.  In  his  name,  and  in  our 
own,  we  greet  you,  dear  brethren,  as  children  of  the  Holy  Catholic 
Church  and  as  citizens  of  the  Republic  on  whose  preservation  the 
future  of  humanity  so  largely  depends.  W'e  exhort  you,  as  of 
one  mind  and  heart,  to  ponder  well  the  significance  of  recent 
events,  so  that  each  of  you,  as  circumstance  requires,  may  rightly 
fulfil  his  share  of  our  common  obligation. 

First  of  all,  it  is  our  bounden  duty  to  offer  up  praise  and 
thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  who  in  His  gracious  Providence, 
has  restored  the  nations  to  peace.  He  has  shown  us  His  mercy, 
and  the  light  of  His  countenance  is  shining  upon  us,  that  we  may 
know  His  way  upon  earth,  which  is  the  way  of  salvation  for  all 
the  peoples.  Now  that  the  storm  is  subsiding,  we  can  see  the 
true  meaning  of  its  causes.     We  can  review  more  calmly  the 


Progress  of  the  Church  7 

changes  and  movements  which  brought  it  about ;  and  we  can  (hs- 
cern  more  surely  their  import  for  our  various  human  interests. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH 
In  the  spiritual  order,  there  has  been  a  steady  advance.  The 
issue  between  truth  and  error  with  regard  to  all  that  religion 
implies,  is  now  quite  clearly  drawn.  As  human  devices,  intended 
to  replace  the  Gospel,  have  gradually  broken  down,  Christianity, 
by  contrast,  appears  distinct  and  firm  in  its  true  position.  The 
Church  indeed  has  suffered  because  it  would  not  sanction  the 
vagaries  of  thought  and  policy  which  were  leading  the  world  to 
disaster.  And  yet  the  very  opposition  which  it  encountered,  an 
opposition  which  would  have  destroyed  the  work  of  man,  has 
given  the  Church  occasion  for  new  manifestations  of  life.  With 
larger  freedom  from  external  interference,  it  has  developed  more 
fully  the  power  from  on  high  with  which  the  Holy  Spirit  endued 
it.  Far  from  being  weakened  by  the  failure  of  outward  support, 
its  activity  is  seen  as  the  expression  of  its  inner  vitality.  Its 
vigor  is  shown  in  its  ready  adaptation  to  the  varying  conditions 
of  the  world,  an  adaptation  wdiich  means  no  supine  yielding  and 
no  surrender  of  principle,  but  rather  the  exertion  of  power  in 
supplying  as  they  arise,  the  needs  of  humanity.  Because  it  main- 
tains inviolate  the  deposit  of  Christian  faith  and  the  law  of 
Christian  morality,  the  Church  can  profit  by  every  item  of  truth 
and  every  means  for  the  betterment  of  man  which  genuine 
progress  affords.  It  thrives  wherever  freedom  really  lives,  and 
it  furnishes  the  only  basis  on  which  freedom  can  be  secure. 

Action  of  the  Holy  See 

The  inner  vitality  of  the  Church  has  been  shown  and  enhanced 
by  the  action  of  the  Holy  See  in  giving  fresh  impetus  to  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  the  faithful;  in  stimulating  philosophical,  historical 
and  biblical  studies;  in  creating  institutions  of  learning;  in  re- 
vising the  forms  of  liturgical  prayer ;  in  quickening  devotion,  and 
in  reducing  to  a  compact  body  of  law  the  manifold  enactments 
of  canonical  legislation.  At  the  same  time,  the  Sovereign  Pontiffs 
have  promoted  the  welfare  of  all  mankind  by  insisting  on  the 


8  Pastoral  Letter 

principles  which  should  govern  our  social,  industrial  and  political 
relations;  by  deepening  respect  for  civil  authority;  by  enjoining 
upon  Catholics  everywhere  the  duty  of  allegiance  to  the  State 
and  the  discharge  of  patriotic  obligation.  They  have  condemned 
the  errors  which  planned  to  betray  humanity  and  to  undermine 
our  civilization.  Again  and  again,  the  charity  of  Christ  con- 
straining them,  they  have  sought  out  the  peoples  which  sat  in 
darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death;  and  they  have  urged  all 
Christians  who  are  yet  "as  children  tossed  to  and  fro  and  carried 
about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine,"  to  enter  the  haven  of  the 
Church  and  anchor  upon  the  confession  of  "one  Lord,  one  faith, 
one  baptism"  (Eph.  IV,  14,  5). 

The  Holy  See  and  the  Church  in  America 

.  From  these  salutary  measures  the  Church  in  America  has  de- 
rived in  full  its  share  of  benefit.  But  it  has  also  received,  to  its 
great  advantage,  especial  marks  of  pontifical  favor.  To  Pope 
Leo  XIII  we  are  indebted  for  the  establishment  of  the  Apostolic 
Delegation,  whereby  we  are  brought  into  closer  union  with  the 
Holy  See.  The  presence  in  our  midst  of  the  representative  of 
the  Holy  Father  has  invigorated  our  ecclesiastical  life,  and  facili- 
tated to  a  marked  degree  the  administration  of  our  spiritual 
affairs,  in  keeping  with  our  rapid  development. 

Though  its  organization  had  extended  to  every  part  of  the 
United  States,  the  Church,  until  1908,  was  still  on  a  missionary 
basis,  as  it  had  been  from  the  beginning.  By  the  action  of  Pope 
Pius  X,  it  was  advanced  to  full  canonical  status  and  ranked  with 
the  older  Churches  of  Europe.  It  now  observes  the  same  laws 
and  enjoys  the  same  relations  with  the  Apostolic  See. 

From  'the  beginning  of  his  pontificate.  Pope  Benedict  XV, 
though  burdened  with  sorrow  and  trial,  has  given  his  children  In 
America  continual  proof  of  his  fatherly  care.  He  has  guided  us 
with  his  counsel,  encouraged  us  with  his  approbation,  and  re- 
joiced in  our  prosperity.  Recognizing  the  importance  of  America 
for  the  world's  restoration,  he  sees  from  his  exalted  position  the 
broader  range  of  opportunity  which  now  is  given  the  Church  in 


Prohrkss  oi'  THE  Church  9 

onr  couiUry.     By  word,  and  yet  more  by  example,  he  shows  how 
effectually  the  Catholic  spirit  can  renew  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Needs  ok  toe  Holy  See 

It  is  a  source  of  happiness  for  tts  that  the  Catholics  of  America 
have  appreciated  the  evidences  of  paternal  affection  bestowed  on 
them  by  the  Vicar  of  Christ.     For  we  can  trul)^  say  that  no 
people  is  more  loyal  to  the  Holy  See,  none  more  diligent  in  pro- 
viding for  its  needs.    Our  assistance  at  the  present  time  will  give 
the  Holy  Father  special  consolation,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
faithful  in  so  many  countries  are  no  longer  able  to  share  with 
him  their  .scanty  means.     It  is  to  the  Pope,  on  the  contrary,  that 
tlicy,  in  tbeir  destitution,  are  looking  for  ;iid.     And  it  is  in  their 
])elialf  that  he  has  more  than  once  appealed.     Touching,  indeed, 
are  the  words  with  which  he  implores  all  Christians  throughout 
the  world,  and  "all  who  have  a  sense  of  humanity,"  for  the  love 
of  the  Infant  Saviour,  to  help  him  in  rescuing  from  hunger  and 
death  the  children  of  Europe.      In   the   same  Encyclical   Letter 
{Fatcrno  iam  din,  Nov.  24,  1919),  he  commends  most  highly  the 
Bishops  and  the  faithful  of  the  United  States  for  their  prompt 
and  generous  response  to  his  earlier  appeal,  and  he  offers  their 
action  as  an  example  to  all  other  Catholics.     Let  us  continue  to 
deserve  his  approval.     It  is   sufficient   for  us  to  know  that  the 
Holy  Father,  with  numberless  demands  upon  him,  is  in  need. 

The  Church  in  Our  Country 

The  growth  of  the  Church  in  America  was  fittingly  brought 
to  view  at  the  celebration,  in  1889,  of  the  first  centenary  of  the 
1  lierarchy.  Within  a  hundred  years,  the  number  of  dioceses  had 
risen,  from  one  to  seventy-five.  During  the  last  three  decades  the 
same  rate  of  progress  has  been  maintained,  with  the  result  that 
at  present  one-sixth  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  in  a  hundred  flourishing 
dioceses. 

But  what  we  regard  as  far  more  important  is  the  growth  and 
manifestation  of  an  active  religious  spirit  in  every  diocese  and 
parish.     "We  are  bound  to  give  thanks  always  to  God  for  you. 


10  Pastoral  Letter 

brethren,  as  it  is  fitting,  because  your  faith  groweth  exceedingly, 
and  the  charity  of  every  one  of  you  toward  each  other  aboundeth" 
(II  Thess.  I,  3).  You  have  not  contented  yourselves  v^ith  bear- 
ing the  Catholic  name  or  professing  your  faith  in  Vi^ords:  you 
have  shown  your  faith  by  your  works;  by  the  performance  of 
your  religious  duties,  by  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  Church 
and  by  cooperation  in  furthering  the  kingdom  of  God.  For  thus 
"the  whole  body,  being  compacted  and  fitly  joined  together,  by 
what  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  operation  in  the 
measure  of  every  part,  maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto  the 
edifying  of  itself  in  charity"  (Eph.  IV,  16). 

With  you,  dear  brethren  of  the  clergy,  we  rejoice  in  the  fruits 
of  your  zeal,  your  loyalty  and  your  concern  for  the  welfare  of 
the  souls  entrusted  to  your  care.  You  have  learned  by  a  happy 
experience  how  much  can  be  accomplished  through  your  daily 
ministration,  your  immediate  contact  with  the  people,  your  words 
of  advice  and  instruction,  above  all,  through  your  priestly  ex- 
ample. To  you  we  gladly  attribute  the  provision  of  the  material 
means  which  are  needed  for  the  worship  of  God  and  for  the 
countless  forms  of  charity.  You  "have  loved  the  beauty  of  His 
house  and  the  place  where  His  glory  dwelleth"  (Ps.  XXV,  8). 
What  is  yet  more  essential,  you  have  builded  in  the  souls  of  your 
people,  and  especially  in  the  little  ones  of  Christ,  the  temple  of 
the  living  God.  In  the  work  of  our  Catholic  schools,  you  have 
both  the  honor  and  the  responsibility  of  laying  the  first  founda- 
tion. We  know  that  you  have  laid  it  with  care,  and  that  the 
whole  structure  of  Catholic  education  is  securely  based  upon 
Jesus  Christ,  the  chief  corner-stone:  "in  whom  all  the  building 
being  fitted  together,  groweth  up  into  an  holy  temple  in  the 
Lord.     .     .     .    an  habitation  of  God  in  the  Spirit"  (Eph.  II,  21). 

You,  likewise,  beloved  children  of  the  laity,  we  heartily  com- 
mend for  your  willingness,  your  correspondence  with  the  intent 
of  your  pastors,  your  support  so  cheerfully  given  to  the  cause  of 
religion.  When  we  consider  that  every  church  and  school,  every 
convent,  asylum  and  hospital  represents  the  voluntary  offering 
brought  by  you,  out  of  your  plenty  and  more  often  out  of  your 


Progress  of  the  Church  11 

want,  we  cannot  but  marvel  and  glorify  God  who  has  made  you 
"worthy  of  His  vocation  and  fulfilled  in  you  all  the  good  pleasure 
of  His  goodness  and  the  work  of  faith  in  power"  (II  Thess.  I, 
11).  For  as  faith  is  expressed  in  deeds,  so,  conversely,  is  it 
strengthened  by  doing:  "by  works  faith  is  made  perfect"  (James 
II,  22).  And  since  the  bond  of  perfection  is  charity,  we  look 
upon  your  generosity  both  as  an  evidence  of  your  good  will  to- 
ward the  whole  of  God's  Church  and  as  a  token  of  His  heavenly 
favor.  "Wherefore,  brethren,  labor  the  more  that  by  good  works 
you  may  make  sure  your  calling  and  election"  (II  Peter  I,  10). 

Faith 

We  would  have  you  bear  always  in  mind  that  your  faith  is 
your  most  precious  possession  and  the  foundation  of  your  spiritual 
life,  since  "without  faith,  it  is  impossible  to  please  God"  (Heb. 
XI,  6).  Without  faith,  the  outward  forms  of  wj^rship  avail  us 
nothing,  the  sacraments  are  beyond  our  reach,  the  whole  plan 
and  effect  of  redemption  is  made  void.  It  behooves  us,  then, 
to  guard  with  jealous  care  the  treasure  of  faith  by  thankfulness 
to  God  for  so  great  a  gift  and  by  loyalty  to  "the  Church  of  the 
living  God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth"  (I  Tim.  Ill, 
15).  The  fact  that  unbelief  is  so  common,  that  firm  and  definite 
teaching  of  Christian  truth  is  so  often  replaced  by  vague  uncertain 
statements,  and  that  even  these  are  left  to  individual  preference 
for  acceptance  or  rejection — the  fact,  in  a  word,  that  by  many 
faith  is  no  longer  regarded  as  of  vital  consequence  in  religion, 
should  the  more  determine  us  to  "watch,  stand  fast  in  the  faith, 
do  manfully  and  be  strengthened"  (I  Cor.  XVI,  13).  While  w£ 
must  needs  look  with  sorrow  upon  the  decay  of  positive  belief, 
let  us  recognize,  wuth  gratitude,  the  wisdom  of  Him  who,  being 
the  "author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,"  established  in  His  Church 
a  living  authority  to  "teach  all  nations,  teaching  them  to  observe 
all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you"  (Matth.  XXVUI, 
20).  Let  us  also  consider  the  splendid  courage  with  which  that 
mission  has  been  accomplished  through  the  centuries,  by  the 
witness  of  martyrs,  the  constancy  of  faithful  peoples,  the  zeal 


12  Pastoral  I.ktter 

of  preachers  and  pastors,  the  firmness  of  Pontiffs  who,  amid 
the  storms  of  error  and  the  assauhs  of  worldly  power,  stood  fast 
in  the  faith  upon  the  assurance  given  them  by  Christ :  "the  gates 
of  hell  shall  not  prevail"  (Matth.  XVI,  18). 

The  Catholic  who  appreciates  the  blessing  of  faith  and  the 
sacrifices  which  generous  men  and  women  in  all  ages  have  made 
to  preserve  it,  will  take  heed  to  himself  and  beware  of  the  things 
whereby  some  "have  made  shipwreck  concerning  the  faith"  (I 
Tim.  I,  19).  For  this  disaster  is  usually  the  end  and  culmination 
of  other  evils,  of  sinful  habits,  of  neglect  of  prayer  and  the  sacra- 
ments, of  cowardice  in  the  face  of  hostility  to  one's  belief,  of 
weakness  in  yielding  to  the  wishes  of  kindred  or  friends,  of 
social  ambition  and  the  hope  of  advantage  in  business  or  public 
career.  More  subtle  are  the  dangers  arising  from  an  atmosphere 
in  which  unbelief  is  mingled  with  culture  and  gentle  refinement, 
or  in  which  the  fallacy  spreads  that  faith  is  hopelessly  at  variance 
with  scientific  truth.  To  counteract  these  influences,  it  is  neces- 
sary that  they  who  love  the  truth  of  Christ,  should  "the  more 
and  more  abound  in  knowledge  and  in  all  understanding"  (Phil. 
I,  9).  As  they  advance  in  years,  they  should  lay  firmer  hold  upon 
the  teachings  of  religion  and  be  prepared  to  explain  and  defend 
it.  They  will  thus  "continue  in  faith,  grounded  and  settled  and 
immovable  from  the  hope  of  the  Gospel"  (Coloss.  I,  23),  ready 
always  to  give  "a  reason  of  that  hope  that  is  in  them"  (I  Peter 
III,  15),  and,  if  needs  be^  to  "contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints"  (Jude,  3). 

The  Scriptures 

To  the  Church  which  is  taught  all  truth  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
Christ  entrusted  the  whole  deposit  of  divine  revelation.  To  the 
watchful  care  of  the  Church  we  owe  the  preservation  of  that 
Book  from  which  Christians  in  every  age  have  derived  instruc- 
tion and  strength.  How  needful  was  the  warning  of  the  Apostle 
that  "no  prophecy  of  Scripture  is  made  by  private  interpretation" 
(II  Peter  I,  20),  appears  in  the  history  of  those  movements  which 
began  by  leaving  each  individual  to  take  his  own  meaning  from 


Progress  of  the  Church  13 

the  sacred  text,  and  now,  after  four  centuries,  have  ended  in  re- 
jecting its  divine  authority.  The  Church,  on  the  contrary,  with 
true  reverence  for  the  Bible  and  sohcitude  for  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  its  readers,  has  guarded  both  it  and  them  against  the 
dangers  of  false  interpretation.  In  the  same  spirit,  dear  brethren, 
we  exhort  you  to  acquire  a  loving  familiarity  with  the  written 
word:  "for  what  things  soever  were  written,  were  written  for 
our  learning;  that  through  patience  and  the  comfort  of  the  Scrip- 
tures we  might  have  hope"  (Romans  XV,  4).  This  intimate 
knowledge  of  Holy  Writ  will  bring  you  close  to  the  person  and 
-ife  of  our  Saviour  and  to  the  labors  of  His  Apostles.  It  will 
renew  in  your  hearts  the  joy  with  which  the  first  Christians  re- 
ceived the  tidings  of  salvation.  And  it  will  deepen  in  you  the 
conviction  that  the  Scriptures  are  indeed  the  word  of  God,  "which 
can  instruct  you  unto  salvation  by  the  faith  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus"  (II  Tim.  Ill,  15,) — a  conviction  which  cannot  be  shaken 
either  by  the  disputations  of  the  learned  wdio  "stumble  at  the 
word,"  or  by  the  errors  of  the  unlearned  and  unstable  who  wrest 
the  Scriptures  "to  their  own  destruction"  (II  Peter  III,  16). 

The  Catholic  Spirit 

The  knowledge  of  our  holy  religion  will  enkindle  in  you  a 
love  of  the  Church,  which  Christ  so  loved  that  He  gave  Himself 
for  it,  purchasing  it  with  His  blood.  It  is  the  Church  not  of 
one  race  or  of  one  nation,  but  of  all  those  wdio  truly  believe  in 
His  name.  The  more  you  dwell  upon  its  teaching,  its  practice 
and  its  history,  the  stronger  will  be  your  sense  of  unity  with 
the  multitude  of  believers  throughout  the  world.  You  will  clearly 
understand  that  the  true  interests  of  each  part,  of  each  diocese 
and  parish,  are  the  interests  of  the  Church  Universal.  "You  are 
the  body  of  Christ  and  members  of  member.  And  if  one  member 
suffer  anything,  all  the  members  suffer  with  it;  or,  if  one  member 
glory,  all  the  members  rejoice  with  it"  (I  Cor.  XII,  26-27).  This 
is  the  practical  meaning  of  Catholicity  and  its  saving  strength  as 
opposed  to  the  weakness  of  localism.  The  really  Catholic  mind 
is  careful  not  onlv  for  the  needs  which  affect  its  immediate  sur- 


14  Pastoral  Letter 

roiindings,  but  for  those  also  which  press  upon  the  Church  in 
less  prosperous  sections,  or  which,  in  far  countries,  hinder  the 
spread  of  religion.  Such  was  the  mind  of  those  Christians  to 
whom  St.  Paul  appealed  in  behalf  of  their  distant  brethren :  "In 
this  present  time,  let  your  abundance  supply  their  want ;  that  their 
abundance  also  may  supply  your  want,  that  there  may  be  an 
equality"  (II  Cor.  VIII,  14). 

Your  Catholic  sense  will  also  enable  you  to  see  how  tireless  the 
Church  has  been  in  providing  both  for  the  souls  of  men  and  for 
their  temporal  needs :  how  much  of  what  is  best  in  modern  civili- 
zation, how  much  that  we  value  in  the  way  of  liberty  and  law,  of 
art  and  industry,  of  science,  education  and  charity,  is  due  to  the 
Catholic  spirit.  Like  its  Founder,  the  Church  has  gone  about  the 
world  doing  good  to  all  men;  and  with  Him  the  Church  can  say: 
"the  works  that  I  do  in  the  name  of  my  Father,  they  give  testi- 
mony of  me.  .  .  .  though  you  will  not  believe  me,  believe 
the  works"  (John  X,  25,  38).  And  this  ministry  of  love  the 
Church  will  continue.  It  will  adopt  all  agencies  and  means  that 
may  render  its  service  of  better  effect;  it  will  quicken  them  all 
with  the  fervor  of  charity  lest  they  harden  to  mechanical  form; 
and  it  will  take  utmost  care  that  they  be  employed  to  draw  men 
nearer  to  Christ. 

The  spirit  that  made  Vincent  de  Paul  a  Saint  and  a  hero  of 
charity,  lives  on  in  his  followers.  According  to  the  pattern  which 
he  gave,  they  minister  to  those  who  are  in  any  distress,  quietly 
and  effectually.  Of  late  they  have  notably  increased  their  power 
for  good.  Through  the  Conference  of  Catholic  Charities,  a 
"great  door  and  evident"  is  opened  upon  a  wider  range  of  useful- 
ness. To  all  who  are  joined  together  in  this  holy  undertaking 
we  say  with  the  Apostle :  "May  the  Lord  multiply  you  and  make 
you  abound  in  charity  one  toward  another  and  toward  all  men; 
as  we  do  also  toward  you"  (I  Thess.  Ill,  12). 

Prayer 

Be  instant,  therefore,  dear  brethren,  in  helping  those  who  suf- 
fer or  want;  but  take  heed  also  to  your  own  spiritual  life,  that 


Progress  of  the  Church  15 

in  thought  and  purpose  and  motive,  as  well  as  in  outward  deed, 
you  may  be  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God.  From  the  teaching 
of  the  Church  and  from  your  own  experience,  you  know  that 
without  the  divine  assistance  you  cannot  walk  in  the  footsteps  of 
Christ.  And  you  need  not  be  reminded  that  the  principal  means 
of  grace  are  prayer  and  the  sacraments. 

Through  prayer  we  lift  up  our  hearts  to  God,  and  He  in  turn 
enlightens  our  minds,  kindles  our  affections,  gives  power  to  our 
wills.    For  whether  we  adore  His  majesty  or  praise  Him  for  His 
wonderful  works,  whether  we  render  Him  thanks  for  His  good- 
ness, or  beseech  Him  for  pardon,  or  beg  Him  to  help  and  defend 
us,  our  prayer  is  pleasing  to  Him:  it  goes  up  as  incense  before 
Him,  as  the  voice  of  His  children  to  the  Father  who  loves  them, 
who  pursues  them  with  mercy  and  offers  them  speedy  forgive- 
ness.   Wherefore,  in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  in  adversity  and  in  pros- 
perity, "in  everything,  by  prayer  and  supplication  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  petitions  be  made  known  to  God"  (Phil.  IV,  6). 
We  are  certain  that  amid  the  trials  of  the  last  few  years,  you 
have  prayed  without  ceasing — for  those  who  had  gone  from  you 
to  the  post  of  duty  and  danger,  for  your  country,  for  the  untold 
millions  who  fell  in  the  struggle.    Alany  of  you  surely  have  found 
that  it  is  "a  holy  and  wholesome  thought  to  pray  for  the  dead 
that  they  may  be  loosed  from  sins"  (H  Mach.  XH,  46).     This 
doctrine  and  practice,  so   fully  according  with  the   impulse  of 
human  affection,  appeals  to  us  now  with  singular  force.     For 
those  who  mourn,  it  is  a  source  of  comfort;  for  all,  it  is  the 
exercise  of  purest  charity.    And  no  petition  could  be  more  pleas-  • 
ing  to  the  Father  of  mercies  than  that  which  implores  Him  to 
grant  to  our  departed  brethren  everlasting  rest  in  a  place  of  re- 
freshment, light  and  peace.    The  remembrance  of  those  who  are 
gone  before  us  with  the  token  of  faith,  will  raise  up  our  hearts 
above  worldly  desires;  and  whereas  we  are   saddened  by  the 
certain  prospect  of  death,  yet  shall  we  be  comforted  with  the 
promise  of  immortal  life,  knowing  that  "if  our  earthly  house  of 
this  habitation  be  dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  heaven"  (H  Cor.  V,  1). 


16  "  -^         Pastoral  Letter 

We  heartily  commend  the  beautiful  practice  of  family  prayer. 
"Where  there  are  two  or  three  gathered  in  My  name,  there  am  I 
in  the  midst  of  them"  (Matth.  XVIII,  20).  If  this  is  true  of 
the  faithful  in  general,  it  applies  with  particular  meaning  to  those 
who  are  members  of  the  same  household.  The  presence  of  Jesus 
will  surely  be  a  source  of  blessing  to  the  home  where  parents  and 
children  unite  to  offer  up  prayer  in  common.  The  spirit  of  piety 
which  this  custom  develops,  will  sanctify  the  bonds  of  family  love 
and  ward  off  the  dangers  which  so  often  bring  sorrow  and  shame. 
We  appeal  in  this  matter  with  special  earnestness  to  young  fathers 
and  mothers,  who  have  it  in  their  power  to  mould  the  hearts  of 
their  children  and  train  them  betimes  in  the  habit  of  prayer. 

The  Sacrifice  and  the  Sacraments 

This  will  also  inspire  them  with  love  for  the  public  services 
of  the  Church  and,  above  all,  for  the  central  act  of  Catholic 
worship,  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  ]\Iass.  For  the  truly  Catholic 
heart,  there  should  be  no  need  of  insisting  on  the  duty  which  the 
Church  enjoins  of  hearing  Mass  on  Sundays  and  festivals  of 
obligation.  We  have  only  to  stir  up  the  faith  that  is  in  us,  and 
consider  that  on  the  altar  is  offered  the  same  clean  oblation  where- 
by the  world  was  redeemed  on  the  Cross ;  and  as  today  no 
Christian  can  stand  unmoved  on  Calvary,  or  pass  with  indifference 
along  the  road  which  Jesus  trod,  so  is  it  inconceivable  that  any 
who  believe  in  the  word  of  Christ  and  His  Church,  should  allow 
household  cares,  or  business  pursuits,  or  the  love  of  pleasure  and 
ease  to  keep  them  away  from  Mass.  Negligence  in  respect  of  this 
duty  may  often  result  from  lack  of  proper  instruction;  and  we 
therefore  desire  to  impress  upon  parents,  teachers  and  pastors 
the  importance  and  the  necessity  of  explaining  to  those  in  their 
charge,  the  origin,  nature  and  value  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  the 
meaning  of  the  sacred  rites  with  which  it  is  oft'ered,  and  the 
order  of  the  liturgy  as  it  advances  from  season  to  season.  There 
is  so  much  beauty  in  the  worship  of  the  Church,  so  much  power 
to  fill  the  mind  with  great  thoughts  and  lift  up  the  heart  to 
heavenly  things,  that  one  who  hears  Mass  with  intelligent  dc- 


Progress  of  tjte  Church  17 

votion  cannot  but  feel  in  his  soul  an  impulse  to  holier  living. 
Such  is  the  experience  of  those  especially  who  begin  each  day  by 
attending  at  Mass,  and  we  rejoice  to  know  that  their  number  is 
increasing.  They  will  grow  in  faith  and  fervor,  and  their  piety 
will  be  for  all  a  source  of  edification. 

It  is  likewise  consoling  to  see  in  our  time  a  revival  of  the 
spirit  which,  in  primitive  ages,  led  the  Christian  to  receive  each 
day  "the  Bread  that  came  down  from  heaven."  In  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ  for  men  passes  all  under- 
standing. "He  that  eateth  Aly  flesh  and  drinketh  My  blood, 
abideth  in  Me  and  I  in  him"  (John  VI,  57).  A  worthy  com- 
munion unites  us  with  our  Saviour,  and  even  transforms  our 
spiritual  being,  so  that  we  may  say  with  the  Apostle:  "I  live, 
now  not  I;  but  Christ  liveth  in  me"  (Gal.  II,  20).  As  by  His 
continual  abiding  within  it,  the  Church  is  holy  and  without  blem- 
ish, so  does  the  presence  of  Christ  in  each  soul  purify  it  even  as 
He  is  pure,  and  give  it  power  to  do  all  things  in  Him  who 
strengthens  it. 

The  sense  of  our  unworthiness  may  incline  us  to  draw  back 
from  the  Holy  Table;  but,  as  St.  Paul  tells  us:  "Let  a  man 
prove  himself  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread  and  drink  of  the 
chalice"  (1  Cor.  XI,  28).  Only  sin  can  separate  us  from  the 
love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  and  for  sin  tie 
has  provided  a  remedy  in  the  sacrament  of  His  mercy.  "If  we 
confess  our  sins.  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  iniquity"  (I  John  I,  9).  Through 
these  two  sacraments,  the  one  given  for  the  healing  of  our  souls, 
the  other  for  their  nourishment,  we  are  established  in  the  life  of 
grace  and  are  "filled  unto  all  the  fullness  of  God"  (Eph.  Ill,  19). 

Mary  the  Mother  otf  Christ 

What  grace  can  accomplish  in  His  creatures,  God  has  shown 
in  the  person  of  her  whom  He  chose  to  be  His  mother,  preserving 
her  from  all  stain  and  endowing  her  with  such  pureness  of  heart 
that  she  is  truly  "full  of  grace"  and  "blessed  among  women." 
The  unique  privilege  of  Alary  as  cooperating  in  the  Incarnation, 


18  Pastoral  Letter 

entitles  her  to  reverence  and  honor;  but  in  the  Catholic  mind  it 
is  love  that  prompts  veneration  for  the  Mother  of  Christ.  It  is 
indeed  beyond  comprehension  that  any  who  sincerely  love  Jesus, 
should  be  cold  or  indifferent  in  regard  to  His  mother.  No  honor 
that  we  may  pay  her  can  ever  equal  that  which  God  himself  has 
conferred,  and  much  less  can  it  detract  from  the  honor  that  is 
due  to  Him. 

In  keeping  with  her  singular  dignity  is  the  power  of  IMary's 
intercession.  If  the  prayers  of  holy  men  avail  to  obtain  the 
divine  assistance,  the  petitions  of  Mary  in  our  behalf  must  be 
far  more  efficacious.  With  good  reason,  then,  does  the  Church 
encourage  the  faithful  to  cultivate  a  tender  devotion  for  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  But  if  all  generations  should  call  her  blessed, 
and  if  the  peoples  of  earth  should  glory  in  her  protection,  we  in 
the  United  States  have  a  particular  duty  to  honor  Mary  Immacu- 
late as  the  heavenly  Patroness  of  our  country.  Let  her  blessed 
influence  preserve  our  Catholic  homes  from  all  contagion  of  evil, 
and  keep  our  children  in  pureness  of  heart.  Let  us  also  pay  her 
the  tribute  of  public  honor  in  a  way  that  will  lead  all  our  people 
to  a  fuller  appreciation  of  Mary,  the  perfect  woman  and  the  sur- 
passing model  of  motherhood.  As  Pope  Benedict  has  declared, 
it  is  eminently  fitting  that  the  devotion  of  American  Catholics 
to  the  Mother  of  God  should  find  expression  in  a  temple  worthy 
of  our  Celestial  Patroness.  ]\Iay  the  day  soon  dawn  when  we 
shall  rejoice  at  the  completion  of  so  grand  an  undertaking;  for, 
as  the  Holy  Father  says  in  commending  the  project  of  the  Na- 
tional Shrine  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  "our  human  society 
has  reached  that  stage  in  which  it  stands  in  most  urgeht  need 
of  the  aid  of  Mary  Immaculate,  no  less  than  of  the  joint  en- 
deavors of  all  mankind"  (Letter  to  the  Hierarchy,  April  10,  1919). 

Catholic  Education 
The  nursery  of  Christian  life  is  the  Catholic  home ;  its  strong- 
hold, the  Catholic  school.  "In  the  great  coming  combat  between 
truth  and  error,  between  Faith  and  Agnosticism,  an  important 
part  of  the  fray  must  be  borne  by  the  laity.  .  .  .  And  if,  in 
the  olden  days  of  vassalage  and  serfdom,  the  Church  honored 


Progress  of  the  Church  19 

every  individual,  no  matter  how  humble  his  position,  and  labored 
to  give  him  the  enlightenment  that  would  qualify  him  for  higher 
responsibilities,  much  more  now,  in  the  era  of  popular  rights 
and  liberties,  when  every  individual  is  an  active  and  influential 
factor  in  the  body  politic,  does  she  desire  that  all  should  be  fitted 
by  suitable  training  for  an  intelligent  and  conscientious  discharge 
of  the  important  duties  that  may  devolve  upon  them." 

The  timely  warning  contained  in  these  words  from  the  Pastoral 
Letter  of  1884,  shows  how  clearly  our  predecessors  discerned  the 
need,  both  present  and  future,  of  Christian  education.  Their 
forecast  has  been  verified.  The  combat  which  they  predicted  has 
swept  around  all  the  sources  of  thought,  and  has  centered  upon 
the  school.  There,  especially,  the  interests  of  morality  and  re- 
ligion are  at  stake ;  and  there,  more  than  anywhere  else,  the 
future  of  the  nation  is  determined.  For  that  reason,  we  give 
most  hearty  thanks  to  the  Father  of  Lights  who  has  blessed  our 
Catholic  schools  and  made  them  to  prosper.  We  invoke  His 
benediction  upon  the  men  and  women  who  have  consecrated  their 
lives  to  the  service  of  Christian  education.  They  are  wholesome 
examples  of  the  self- forget  fulness  which  is  necessary  in  time  of 
peace  no  less  than  in  crisis  and  danger.  Through  their  singleness 
of  purpose  and  their  sacrifice,  the  Church  expresses  the  truth 
that  education  is  indeed  a  holy  work,  not  merely  a  service  to  the 
individual  and  society,  but  a  furtherance  of  God's  design  for 
man's  salvation.  With  them  we  realize  more  fully  than  ever  be- 
fore, the  necessity  of  adhering  to  the  principles  on  which  our 
schools  are  established.  If  our  present  situation  is  beset  with 
new  problems,  it  is  also  rich  in  opportunity ;  and  we  are  confident 
that  our  teachers  will  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  in  perfecting 
their  work.  Their  united  counsel  in  the  Catholic  Educational 
Association  has  already  produced  many  excellent  results,  and  it 
justifies  the  hope  that  our  schools  may  be  organized  into  a  system 
that  will  combine  the  utilities  of  free  initiative  with  the  power  of 
unified  action.  With  a  common  purpose  so  great  and  so  holy  to 
guide  them,  and  with  a  growing  sense  of  solidarity,  our  educators 
will  recognize  the  advantage  which  concerted  effort  implies  both 


20  Pastoral  Letter 

for  the  Catholic  system  as  a  whole  and  for  each  of  the  allied 
institutions. 

We  deem  it  necessary  at  this  time  to  emphasize  the  value  for  our 
people  of  higher  education,  and  the  importance  of  providing  and 
receiving  it  under  Catholic  auspices.  "Would  that  even  now,  as 
we -trust  will  surely  come  to  pass  in  the  future,  the  work  of  edu- 
cation were  so  ordered  and  established  that  Catholic  youth  might 
proceed  from  our  Catholic  elementary  schools  to  Catholic  schools 
of  higher  grade  and  in  tliese  attain  the  object  of  their  desires" 
(Third  Plenary  Council:  Acts  and  Decrees,  208).  This  wish 
and  ideal  of  our  predecessors,  in  a  gratifying  measure,  has  been 
realized  through  the  establishment  of  Catholic  high  schools  and  the 
development  of  our  Catholic  colleges.  These  have  more  than 
doubled  in  number;  they  have  enlarged  their  facilities  and  ad- 
justed their  courses  to  modern  requirements.  We  congratulate 
their  directors  and  teachers,  and  with  them  we  see  in  the  present 
condition  of  their  institutions,  the  possibility  and  the  promise  of 
further  achievement  in  accordance  with  their  own  aspirations. 

In  educational  progress,  the  teacher's  qualification  is  the  vital 
element.  This  is  manifestly  true  of  the  Catholic  school,  in  which 
the  teacher's  personality  contributes  so  much  toward  the  building 
of  character  and  the  preservation  of  faith  along  with  the  pupil's 
instruction  in  knowledge.  If,  therefore,  the  aim  of  our  system 
is  to  have  Catholic  youth  receive  their  education  in  its  complete- 
ness from  Catholic  sources,  it  is  equally  important,  and  even  more 
urgently  necessary,  that  our  teachers  should  be  trained  under  those 
influences  and  by  those  agencies  which  place  the  Catholic  religion 
at  the  heart  of  instruction,  as  the  vitalizing  principle  of  all  knowl- 
edge and,  in  particular,  of  educational  theory  and  practice.  We 
note  with  satisfaction  that  our  teachers  are  eager  for  such  train- 
ing, and  that  measures  have  been  taken  to  provide  it  through 
institutes,  summer  schools  and  collegiate  courses  under  university 
direction.  We  are  convinced  that  this  movement  will  invigorate 
our  education  and  encourage  our  people,  since  the  work  of  teach- 
ers who  are  thoroughly  prepared  is  tlie  best  recommendation  of 
the  school. 


Progress  of  the  Church  21 

We  cannot  too  highly  approve  the  zeal  and  liberality  of  those 
who,  with  large  amount  or  small,  have  aided  us  in  building  up 
our  schools.  For  what  we  value  as  significant  in  their  action  is 
not  alone  the  material  help  which  it  renders,  essential  as  this  has 
become;  but  rather  and  chiefly  the  evidence  which  it  affords  of 
their  spiritual  sense  and  perception.  It  shows  that  they  appre- 
ciate both  the  necessity  of  Catholic  education  and  the  unselfish 
devotion  of  our  teachers.  At  a  time,  especially,  when  vast  for- 
tunes are  so  freely  lavished  upon  education  in  other  lines,  it  is 
edifying  to  see  our  people  either  dedicating  their  individual  wealth 
to  the  cause  of  religious  instruction  or,  as  members  of  Catholic 
associations,  combining  their  means  for  the  same  noble  purpose. 
They,  assuretlly,  have  given  an  object  lesson,  teaching  all  by  their 
example,  "to  do  good,  to  be  rich  in  good  works,  to  give  easily, 
to  communicate  to  others,  to  lay  up  in  store  for  themselves  a 
good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that  they  may  lay  hold 
on  the  true  life"  (I  Tim.  VI,  18-19). 

The  Catholic  University 
It  was  the  progress  of  our  academies,  colleges  and  seminaries, 
from  colonial  days  onward,  that  made  the  University  possible ; 
and  it  was  the  demand,  created  by  them,  for  larger  opportunities 
that  made  it  a  necessity.  Established,  at  the  instance  of  the 
Bishops,  by  Pope  Leo  XIII,  it  represents  the  joint  action  of  the 
Holy  See  and  of  the  American  Hierarchy  in  behalf  of  higher 
education.  Like  the  first  universities  of  Europe,  is  was  designed 
to  be  the  home  of  all  the  sciences  and  the  common  base  of 
all  our  educational  forces.  This  twofold  purpose  has  guided  its 
development.  As  in  the  Ages  of  Faith  and  Enlightenment,  the 
various  Religious  Orders  gathered  at  the  centers  of  learning 
which  the  Holy  See  had  established,  so  in  our  own  day,  the  Orders 
have  grouped  their  houses  of  study  about  the  University,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  express  desire  of  its  Founders.  "We  exhort 
you  all,"  said  the  Pontiff,  "to  affiliate  your  seminaries,  colleges 
and  other  Catholic  institutions  of  learning  with  your  University 
on  the  terms  which  its  statutes  suggest"  (Apostolic  Letter,  Magni 
Nobis  gaudii,  jMarch  7,  1889).     As  the  process  of  affiliation  is 


22  Pastoral  Letter 

extended  to  our  high  schools,  it  benefits  them  and  also  provides  a 
better  class  of  students  for  our  colleges.  In  keeping,  then,  with 
the  aims  of  its  Founders,  the  University  exists  for  the  good  and 
the  service  of  all  our  schools.  Through  them  and  through  their 
teachers,  it  returns  with  interest  the  generous  support  of  our 
clergy  and  laity. 

"By  no  means  surprising  or  unexpected,"  said  Pope  Pius  X, 
"is  the  steady  and  vigorous  growth  of  the  Catholic  University 
which,  located  at  Washington,  the  Capital  City  of  the  American 
Republic,  built  up  by  the  offerings  of  the  Catholic  people  and 
invested  by  the  Apostolic  See  with  full  academic  authority,  is  now 
become  the  fruitful  parent  of  knowledge  in  all  the  sciences  both 
human  and  divine.  .  .  .  We  are  fully  determined  on  developing 
the  Catholic  University.  For  we  clearly  understand  how  much 
a  Catholic  university  of  high  repute  and  influence  can  do  toward 
spreading  and  upholding  Catholic  doctrine  and  furthering  the 
cause  of  civilization.  To  protect  it,  therefore,  and  to  quicken  its 
growth,  is,  in  our  judgment,  equivalent  to  rendering  most  val- 
uable service  to  religion  and  to  country  alike"  (Letter  to  the  Car- 
dinal Chancellor,  Jan.  5,  1912). 

To  the  same  intent,  Pope  Benedict  XV  writes:  "We  have 
followed  with  joy  its  marvellous  progress  so  closely  related  to 
the  highest  hope  of  your  Churches  .  .  .  well  knowing  that  you 
have  all  hitherto  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to  the  develop- 
ment of  this  seat  of  higher  studies,  both  ecclesiastical  and  secular. 
Nor  have  we  any  doubt  but  that  henceforth  you  will  continue 
even  more  actively  to  support  an  institution  of  such  great  useful- 
ness and  promise  as  is  the  University"  (Letter  to  the  Hierarchy, 
April  10,  1919). 

It  is  our  earnest  desire  that  the  University  should  attain  fully 
the  scope  of  its  Founders,  and  thereby  become  an  educational 
center  worthy  of  the  Church  in  America,  worthy  also  of  the  zeal 
which  our  clergy  and  laity  have  shown  in  behalf  of  education. 
Its  progress  and  prosperity  will  make  it,  as  the  Holy  Father  trusts, 
"the  attractive  center  about  which  all  will  gather  who  love  the 
teachings  of  our  Catholic  Faith." 


Progress  of  the  Church  23 

«  Catholic  Societies  • 

Considering  the  great  good  accomplished  by  our  Catholic 
societies,  the  Fathers  of  the  Third  Plenary  Council  expressed  the 
desire  "to  see  their  number  multiplied  and  their  organization  per- 
fected." That  desire  has  been  fulfilled.  The  rapid  development 
of  our  country  provides  ample  occasion,  even  under  normal  condi- 
tions, for  those  activities  which  attain  success  through  organiza- 
tion. Continually,  new  problems  appear  and  opportunities  arise 
to  spread  the  Faith,  to  foster  piety,  to  counteract  tendencies  which 
bode  evil,  either  openly  or  under  attractive  disguise.  In  response 
to  these  demands,  our  Catholic  associations  have  increased  their 
usefulness  by  selecting  special  lines  of  activity,  and  by  following 
these  out  wherever  the  cause  of  religion  was  in  need  or  in  peril. 
Through  the  hearty  cooperation  of  clergy  and  laity,  these  agencies 
have  wrought  "good  to  all  men,  especially  to  those  who  are  of  the 
household  of  the  faith"  (Gal.  VI,  10).  They  have  enlisted  our 
Catholic  youth  in  the  interests  of  faith  and  charity,  provided  in 
numberless  ways  for  the  helpless  and  poor,  shielded  the  weak 
against  temptation,  spread  sound  ideas  of  social  and  industrial 
reform  and  furthered  the  public  welfare  by  their  patriotic  spirit 
and  action.  We  rejoice  in  the  fruits  of  tlieir  fellowship,  and  we 
desire  of  them  that  they  strive  together  for  the  highest  and  best, 
"considering  one  another  to  provoke  unto  charity  and  to  good 
works"  (Heb.  X,  24). 

The  tendency  on  the  part  of  our  societies  to  coalesce  in  larger 
organizations,  is  encouraging.  It  arises  from  their  consciousness 
of  the  Catholic  purpose  for  which  each  and  all  are  striving;  and 
it  holds  out  the  promise  of  better  results,  both  for  the  attainment 
of  their  several  objects  and  for  the  promotion  of  their  common 
cause,  the  welfare  of  the  Church.  The  aim  which  inspired  the 
Federation  of  our  Catholic  Societies,  and  which  more  recently  has 
led  to  the  Federation  of  Catholic  Alumnae,  is  worthy  of  the  high- 
est commendation.  It  manifests  a  truly  Catholic  spirit,  and  it 
suggests  wider  possibilities  for  good  which  a  more  thorough 
organization  will  enable  us  to  realize. 

We  regard  as  specially  useful  the  work  of  associations  like  the 


24  Pastoral  Letter 

Church  Extension  Society  and  the  Missionary  Unions,  in  securing 
the  blessings  of  rehgion  and  the  means  of  worship  for  those  who 
suiTer  from  poverty  or  isolation.  The  sections  of  our  country  in 
which  Catholics  are  few,  offer,  no  less  than  the  populous  centers, 
a  field  for  zealous  activity;  and  we  heartily  encourage  all  projects 
for  assisting  those  who,  in  spite  of  adverse  circumstances,  have 
preserved  the  faith,  for  reclaiming  many  others  who  have  lost  it, 
and  for  bringing  to  our  non-Catholic  brethren  the  knowledge  of 
our  holy  religion. 

Home  Missions 
As  we  thus  survey  the  progress  of  the  Church  in  our  country 
and  throughout  the  world,  we  cannot  but  think  of  the  greater 
good  which  might  result  if  men  of  worthy  disposition  were  all 
united  in  faith.  For  we  gladly  recognize  the  upright  will  and 
generosity  of  many  who  are  not  yet  "come  to  the  city  of  the  living 
God"  and  "to  the  Church  of  the  first-born"  (Heb.  XII,  22).  We 
know  that  among  them  are  men  of  judgment,  who  with  spiritual 
insight  are  looking  to  the  Catholic  Church  for  the  sure  way  of 
salvation ;  and  that  not  a  few,  with  exceptional  talent  for  historical 
research,  have  set  forth  in  their  scholarly  writings  the  unbroken 
succession  of  the  Church  of  Rome  from  the  Apostles,  the  integrity 
of  its  doctrine  and  the  steadfast  power  of  its  discipline.  To  all 
such  earnest  inquirers  we  repeat  the  invitation  given  them  by  Pope 
Leo  XIII :  "Let  our  fervent  desire  toward  you,  even  more  than 
our  words,  prevail.  To  you  we  appeal,  our  brethren  who  for 
over  three  centuries  have  differed  from,  us  regarding  our  Chris- 
tian faith ;  and  to  all  of  you  likewise  who  in  later  times,  for  any 
reason  whatsoever,  have  turned  away  from  us.  Let  us  all  'meet 
together  in  the  unity  of  faith  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son 
of  God'  (Eph.  IV,  13).  Suffer  that  we  invite  you  to  the  unity 
which  always  has  existed  in  the  Catholic  Church  and  which  never 
can  fail.  Lovingly  we  stretch  forth  our  hands  to  you ;  the  Church, 
our  mother  and  yours,  calls  upon  you  to  return ;  the  Catholics  of 
the  whole  world  await  you  with  brotherly  longing,  that  you  to- 
gether with  us  may  worship  God  in  holiness,  with  hearts  united  in 
perfect  charity  by  the  profession  of  one  Gospel,  one  faith  and  one 


Pkoc.rkss  of  ttte  Churcti  25 

hope"  (Apostolic  Letter,  Pracclara  cjnitulatioiiis,  June  20,  1894). 

We  give  thanks  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  His  mercy  upon 
so  many  who  were  scattered  abroad  and  in  distress  even  as  sheep 
that  have  no  shepherd.  Year  by  year,  "the  nudtitude  of  men  and 
women  who  beheve  in  the  Lord  is  more  increased"  (Acts  V,  14). 
But  though  conversions  are  numerous,  much  remains  to  be  done. 
"Other  sheep  I  have -that  are  not  of  this  fold:  them  also  I  must 
bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice,  and  there  shall  be  one  fold 
and  one  shepherd"  (John  X,  16). 

Pray  fervently,  therefore,  that  light  may  be  given  to  those  who 
vet  are  seeking  the  way,  that  they  may  understand  the  nature  of 
that  union  and  concord  so  clearly  set  forth  by  Christ  himself, 
when  He  prayed  to  the  Father,  not  only  for  His  Apostles,  "but 
for  them  also  who  through  their  word  shall  believe  in  me :  that 
they  all  may  be  one,  as  thou.  Father,  in  me  and  I  in  thee ;  that 
they  also  may  be  one  in  us,  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou 
hast  sent  me"  (John  XVII,  20,  21),  Now  Christ  and  the  Father 
are  one,  not  by  any  outward  bond  of  the  least  possible  agreement 
but  by  perfect  identity  in  all  things. 

Negro  and  Indian  Missions 

In  our  own  country  there  are  fields  of  missionary  labor  that 
call  in  a  special  manner  for  assiduous  cultivation.  There  are 
races  less  fortunate  in  a  worldly  sense  and,  for  that  very  reason, 
more  fully  dependent  on  Christian  zeal.  The  lot  of  the  Negro 
and  Indian,  though  latterly  much  improved,  is  far  from  being 
what  the  Church  would  desire.  Both  have  been  hampered  by 
adverse  conditions,  yet  both  are  responsive  to  religious  ministra- 
tion. In  the  eyes  of  the  Church  there  is  no  distinction  of  race 
or  of  nation ;  there  are  human  souls,  and  these  have  all  alike  been 
purchased  at  the  same  great  price,  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ. 

This  is  the  truth  that  inspires  our  Catholic  missionaries  and 
enables  them  to  make  such  constant  efforts  in  behalf  of  those 
needy  races.  We  commend  their  work  to  the  faithful  in  every 
part  of  our  country.  In  the  name  of  justice  and  charity,  we  dep- 
recate most  earnestly  all  attempts  at  stirring  up  racial  hatred ; 


26  Pastoral  LETTlIi 

for  this,  while  it  hinders  the  progress  of  all  our  people,  and  espe- 
cially of  the  Negro,  in  the  sphere  of  temporal  welfare,  places  se- 
rious obstacles  to  the  advance  of  religion  among  them.  We  con- 
cur in  the  belief  that  education  is  the  practical  means  of  bettering 
their  condition;  and  we  emphasize  the  need  of  combining  moral 
and  religious  training  with  the  instruction  that  is  given  them  in 
other  branches  of  knowledge.  Let  them  learn  from  the  example 
and  word  of  their  teachers  the  lesson  of  Christian  virtue :  it  will 
help  them  more  effectually  than  any  skill  in  the  arts  of  industry, 
to  solve  their  problems  and  to  take  their  part  in  furthering  the 
general  good.  • 

Foreign  Missions 

"The  mission  which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  eve  of  His 
return  to  the  Father,  entrusted  to  His  disciples,  bidding  them  'go 
into  the  whole  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature' 
(Mark  XVI,  15) — that  office  most  high  and  most  holy — was  cer- 
tainly not  to  end  with  the  life  of  the  Apostles :  it  was  to  be  con- 
tinued by  their  successors  even  to  the  consummation  of  the  world, 
as  long,  namely,  as  there  should  live  upon  earth  men  to  be  freed 
by  the  truth"  (Apostolic  Letter,  Maximum  illud,  Nov.  30,  1919). 

These  words  of  the  Holy  Father,  addressed,  with  his  charac- 
teristic love  of  souls,  to  all  the  Bishops  of  the  Church,  have  for 
us  in  America  a  peculiar  force  and  significance.  The  care  of  our 
Catholic  population,  which  is  constantly  increased  by  the  influx 
of  immigrants  from  other  countries,  hitherto  has  fully  occupied 
the  energies  of  our  clergy  and  of  our  missionary  organizations. 
Until  quite  recently,  the  Church  in  the  United  States  was  regarded 
as  a  missionary  field.  As  such  it  has  drawn  upon  Europe  for 
recruits  to  the  priesthood  and  the  religious  Orders,  and  for  finan- 
cial assistance,  which  it  owes  so  largely  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith. 

The  time  now  has  come  to  show  our  grateful  appreciation: 
"freely  have  you  received,  freely  give"  (Matth.  X,  8).  Wher- 
ever we  turn  in  this  whole  land,  the  memory  of  the  pioneers  of 
our  Faith  confronts  us.     Let  it  not  appeal  in  vain.     Let  it  not  be 


Progress  or  the  Church  27 

said,  to  our  reproach,  that  American  commerce  has  outstripped 
American  Catholic  zeal,  or  that  others  have  entered  in  to  reap 
where  Catholic  hands  had  planted,  perchance  where  Catholic 
blood  had  watered  the  soil. 

"Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  see  the  countries,  for  they  are  white 
already  to  harvest"  (John  IV,  35).  Consider  the  nations  that  lie 
to  the  south  of  our  own,  and  in  them  the  manifol.l  needs  of 
religion.  Look  to  the  farther  East  where  of  old  a  Francis 
Xavier  spread  the  light  of  the  Gospel.  Think  of  the  peoples  in 
Asia,  so  long  estranged  from  the  Faith  which  tlieir  forefathers 
received  from  the  Apostles.  In  some  of  these  lands,  entire  popu- 
lations grow  up  and  pass  away  without  hearing  the  name  of 
Christ.  In  others,  the  seed  of  God's  word  has  been  planted  and 
there  is  promise  of  vigorous  growth ;  but  there  is  none  to  gather 
the  fruit.  "The  harvest  indeed  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are  few" 
(Matth.  IX,  Z7). 

"Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that  He  send  forth 
laborers  into  his  harvest"  (Ibid.  38).  This,  as  the  Holy  Father 
reminds  us,  is  our  first  obligation  in  regard  to  the  missions. 
However  eager  the  missionaries,  they  will  labor  in  vain,  unless 
God  give  the  increase.  This  is  also  the  appropriate  object  of 
the  Apostleship  of  Prayer,  whose  members,  to  our  great  joy,  are 
steadily  becoming  more  numerous.  Let  all  the  faithful  associate 
themselves  with  it  and  thus  contribute,  by  their  prayers  at  least, 
to  the  success  of  the  missions. 

In  the  next  place,  measures  must  be  taken  to  increase  the  supply 
of  laborers.  They  were  few  before  the  war;  and  now  they  are 
fewer.  Unite  with  us,  therefore,  in  praying  that  the  special  grace 
and  vocation  which  this  holy  enterprise  demands,  may  be  granted 
more  abundantly.  W'e  gladly  encourage  young  men  who  feel  in 
their  souls  the  prompting  and  desire  for  the  missionary  career. 
And  we  bless  with  cordial  approval  the  efforts  of  those  who,  in 
our  colleges  and  seminaries,  develop  this  apostolic  spirit  and  train 
up  workers  for  the  distant  parts  of  the  vineyard. 

We  appeal,  finally,  to  the  generosity  of  the  faithful  in  behalf 
of  the  devoted  men  who  already  are  bearing  the  heat  of  the  day 


28  Pastoral  Letter 

and  the  burden.  They  have  given  all.  Let  us  help  them  at  least 
to  overcome  the  difficulties  which  the  War  has  occasioned,  and 
to  develop  the  work  which  they  are  doing,  with  inadequate  means, 
in  their  schools,  orphanages  and  other  institutions.  So  shall  we 
have  some  part  in  their  labors,  and  likewise  in  their  reward.  For 
"he  that  reapeth  receiveth  wages,  and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life 
everlasting;  that  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reapeth,  may 
rejoice  together"  (John  IV,  36). 

Vocations 

As  the  departments  of  Catholic  activity  multiply,  and  as  each 
expands  to  meet  an  urgent  need,  the  problem  of  securing  compe- 
tent leaders  and  workers  becomes  day  by  day  more  serious.     The 
success  of  a  religious  enterprise  depends  to  some  extent  upon  the 
natural  ability  and  character  of  those  who  have  it  in  charge.     But 
if  it  be  truly  the  work  of  God,  it  must  be  carried  on  by  those 
whom  He  selects.     To  His  Apostles  the  Master  said :    "You  have 
not  chosen  me:  but  I  have  chosen  you,  and  have  appointed  you, 
that  you  should  go  and  should  bring  forth  fruit;  and  your  fruit 
should  remain"    (John  XV,   16).     Of  the  priesthood   St.   Paul 
declares:     "Neither  doth  any  man  take  the  honor  to  himself,  but 
he  that  is  called  of  God"  (Heb.  V,  4).     The  same  applies,  in  due 
proportion,  to  all  who  would  enter  the  Master's  service  in  any 
form  of  the  religious  state.     And  since  our  educational,  charitable 
and  missionary  undertakings  are  for  the  most  part  conducted  by 
the  Priest,  the  Brother  and  the  Sister,  the  number  of  vocations 
must  increase  to  supply  the  larger  demand. 

God,  assuredly,  in  His  unfailing  providence,  has  marked  for 
the  grace  of  vocation  those  who  are  to  serve  Him  as  His  chosen 
instruments.  It  lies  with  us  to  recognize  these  vessels  of  election 
and  to  set  them  apart,  that  they  may  be  duly  fashioned  and  tem- 
pered for  the  uses  of  their  calling.  To  this  end,  we  charge  all 
those  who  have  the  care  of  souls  to  note  the  signs  of  vocation,  to 
encourage  young  men  and  women  who  manifest  the  requisite  dis- 
positions, and  to  guide  them  with  prudent  advice.  Let  parents 
esteem  it  a  privilege  surpassing  all  worldly  advantage,  that  God 


Progress  of  the  Church      _  29 

should  call  their  sons  or  daughters  to  His  service.  Let  teachers 
also  remember  that,  after  the  home,  the  school  is  the  garden  in 
which  vocations  are  fostered.  To  discern  them  in  lime,  to  hedge 
them  about  with  careful  direction,  to  strengthen  and  protect  them 
against  worldly  allurement,  should  be  our  constant  aim. 

In  our  concern  and  desire  for  the  increase  of  vocations,  we  are 
greatly  encouraged  as  we  reflect  upon  the  blessings  which  the 
■  Church  has  enjoyed  in  this  respect.  The  generosity  of  so  many 
parents,  the  sacrifices  which  they  willingly  make  that  their  chil- 
dren may  follow  the  calling  of  God,  and  the  support  so  freely 
given  to  institutions  for  the  training  of  priests  and  religious,  are 
edifying  and  consoling.  For  such  proofs  of  zeal,  we  return  most 
hearty  thanks  to  Him  who  is  pleased  to  accept  from  His  faithful 
servants  the  ofifering  of  the  gifts  which  He  bestows. 

The  training  of  those  who  are  called  to  the  priesthood,  is  at 
once  a  privilege  and  a  grave  responsibility.  This  holiest  of  all 
educational  duties  we  entrust  to  the  directors  and  teachers  of  our 
seminaries.  Because  they  perform  it  faithfully,  we  look  with 
confidence  to  the  future,  in  the  assurance  that  our  clergy  will 
be  fully  prepared  for  the  tasks  which  await  them.  "That  the 
man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  furnished  to  every  good  work" 
(II  Tim.  Ill,  17)  is  the  end  for  which  the  seminary  exists.  The 
model  which  it  holds  up  is  no  other  than  Jesus  Christ.  Its  course 
of  instruction  begins  with  St.  Paul's  exhortation:  ''holy  brethren, 
partakers  of  the  heavenly  vocation,  consider  the  apostle  and  high 
priest  of  our  confession,  Jesus"  (Heb.  Ill,  1)  ;  and  it  ends  with 
the  promise :  "thou  shalt  be  a  good  minister  of  Christ  Jesus,  nour- 
ished up  in  the  words  of  faith  and  of  the  good  doctrine  which 
thou  hast  attained  unto"  (I  Tim.  IV,  6). 

The  Catholic  Press 

The  functions  of  the  Catholic  Press  are  of  special  value  to  the 
Church  in  our  country.  To  waden  the  interest  of  our  people  by 
acquainting  them  with  the  progress  of  religion  throughout  the 
world,  to  correct  false  or  misleading  statements  regarding  our 
belief  and  practice,  and,  as  occasion  offers,  to  present  our  doc- 


30  Pastoral  Letter 

trine  in  popular  form — these  are  among  the  excellent  aims  of 
Catholic  journalism.  As  a  means  of  forming  sound  public  opin- 
ion, it  is  indispensable.  The  vital  issues  affecting  the  nation's 
welfare  usually  turn  upon  moral  principles.  Sooner  or  later,  dis- 
cussion brings  forward  the  question  of  right  and  wrong.  The 
treatment  of  such  subjects  from  the  Catholic  point  of  view,  is 
helpful  to  all  our  people.  It  enables  them  to  look  at  current 
events  and  problems  in  the  light  of  the  experience  which  the 
Church  has  gathered  through  centuries,  and  it  points  the  surest 
way  to  a  solution  that  will  advance  our  common  interests. 

The  unselfish  zeal  displayed  by  Catholic  journalists  entitles 
them  to  a  more  active  support  than  hitherto  has  been  given.  By 
its  very  nature  the  scope  of  their  work  is  specialized ;  and,  within 
the  limitations  thus  imposed,  they  are  doing  what  no  other 
agency  could  accomplish  or  attempt,  in  behalf  of  our  homes, 
societies  and  schools. 

In  order  to  obtain  the  larger  results  and  the  wider  appreciation 
which  their  efforts  deserve  and  which  we  most  earnestly  desire, 
steps  must  be  taken  to  coordinate  the  various  lines  of  publicity 
and  secure  for  each  a  higher  degree  of  usefulness.  Each  will 
then  offer  to  those  who  are  properly  trained,  a  better  opportunity 
for  service  in  this  important  field. 

At  all  times  helpful  to  the  cause  of  religion,  a  distinctively 
Catholic  literature  is  the  more  urgently  needed  now  that,  owing 
to  the  development  of  scholarship  in  our  country  and  the  progress 
of  education,  there  has  grown  up  a  taste  for  reading  and,  among 
many  of  our  people,  a  desire  for  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
Church.  In  recent  times,  and  notably  during  the  past  three  de- 
cades, there  has  been  a  gratifying  increase  in  the  number  of 
Catholic  authors,  and  their  activity  has  been  prolific  of  good 
results.  By  the  simple  process  of  telling  the  truth  about  our 
faith  and  its  practice,  they  have  removed,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  those  prejudices  and  erroneous  views  which  so  often 
hinder  even  fairminded  thinkers  from  understanding  our  posi- 
tion. As  so  much  had  been  accomplished  by  individual  writers 
in  this  and  other  countries,  it  was  wisely  thought  that  even  greater 


Secular  Conditions  31 

benefit  would  accrue  from  their  cooperation.  The  reaHzation  of 
this  idea  in  the  CathoHc  Encyclopedia  has  given  us  a  monumental 
work,  and  opened  to  all  inquirers  a  storehouse  of  information 
regarding  the  Church,  its  history,  constitution  and  doctrine.  It 
has  furthermore  shown  the  value  and  power  for  good  of  united 
effort  in  behalf  of  a  high  common  purpose;  and  we  therefore  trust 
that  while  serving  as  a  means  of  instruction  to  our  clergy  and 
people,  it  will  give  inspiration  to  other  endeavors  with  similar  aim 
and  effect,  in  every  field  of  Catholic  action. 

The  Obvious  Outcome 

The  progress  of  the  Church  which  we  have  reviewed,  has  been 
no  easy  achievement.  There  have  been  trials  and  difficulties ; 
and  as  Christ  predicted,  there  have  been  frequent  attempts  to 
hamper  the  Church  just  where  and  when  it  was  doing  the  greatest 
good  for  our  common  humanity. 

In  the  net  result,  however,  the  Church  has  been  strengthened, 
to  its  own  profit  and  to  that  of  the  world  at  large.  In  an  age 
that  is  given  to  material  pursuits,  it  upholds  the  ideals  of  the 
spiritual  life.  To  minds  that  see  only  intellectual  values,  it 
teaches  the  lesson  of  moral  obligation.  Amid  widespread  social 
confusion,  it  presents  in  concrete  form  the  principle  of  authority 
as  the  basis  of  social  order.  And  it  appears  as  the  visible  em- 
bodiment of  faith  and  hope  and  charity,  at  the  very  time  when 
the  need  of  these  is  intensified  by  conditions  in  the  temporal  order. 

SECULAR  CONDITIONS 

The  temporal  order,  in  the  last  thirty-five  years,  has  undergone 
radical  changes.  It  has  been  affected  by  movements  which,  though 
checked  for  a  time  or  reversed,  have  steadily  gathered  momen- 
tum. Their  direction  and  goal  are  no  longer  matters  of  surmise 
or  suspicion.     Their  outcome  is  plainly  before  us. 

During  the  first  three  decades  of  this  period,  the  advance  of  civ- 
ilization was  more  rapid  and  more  general  than  in  any  earlier 
period  of  equal  length.  The  sound  of  progress,  echoing  beyond 
its  traditional  limits,  aroused  all  the  nations  to  a  sense  of  their 


32  Pastoral  Letter 

possibilities,  and  stirred  each  with  an  ambition  to  win  its  share  in 
the  forward  movement  of  the  world.  At  the  same  time,  the  idea 
of  a  human  weal  for  whose  promotion  all  should  strive  and  by 
whose  attainment  all  should  profit,  seemed  to  be  gaining  universal 
acceptance.  If  rivalry  here  and  there  gave  occasion  for  friction 
or  conflict,  it  was  treated  as  incidental :  the  general  desire  for 
harmony,  apparently,  was  nearing  fulfilment. 

Toward  this  end  the  highest  tendencies  in  the  secular  order 
were  steadily  converging.  A  wider  diffusion  of  knowledge  pro- 
vided the  basis  for  a  mutual  understanding  of  rights  and  obliga- 
tions. Science,  while  attaining  more  completely  to  the  mastery 
of  nature,  placed  itself  more  effectually  at  the  service  of  man. 
Through  its  practical  applications,  it  hastened  material  progress, 
facilitated  the  intercourse  of  nation  with  nation,  and  thus  low 
ered  the  natural  barriers  of  distance  and  time.  But  jt  also  made 
possible  a  fuller  exchange  of  ideas,  and  thereby  revealed  to  the 
various  peoples  of  earth  that  in  respect  of  need,  aspiration  and 
purpose,  they  had  more  in  common  than  generally  was  supposed. 
It  helped  them  to  see  that  however  they  differed  in  race,  tradition 
and  language,  in  national  temper  and  political  organization,  they 
were  humanly  one  in  the  demand  for  freedom  with  equal  right 
and  opportunity. 

As  this  consciousness  developed  in  mankind  at  large,  the  exam- 
ple of  our  own  country  grew  in  meaning  and  influence.  For  a 
century  and  more,  it  had  taught  the  world  that  men  could  live 
and  prosper  under  free  institutions.  During  the  period  in  ques*' 
tion,  it  has  continued  to  receive  the  multitudes  who  came  not,  as 
in  the  early  days,  from  a  few  countries  only,  but  from  every 
foreign  land,  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  liberty  and  to  better  their 
worldly  condition.  In  making  them  its  own,  America  has  shown 
a  power  of  assimilation  that  is  without  precedent  in  the  temporal 
order.  With  their  aid  it  has  undertaken  and  achieved  industrial 
tasks  on  a  scale  unknown  to  former  generations.  The  wealth 
thus  produced  has  been  used  in  generous  measure  to  build  up  in- 
stitutions of  public  utility.  Education,  in  particular,  has  flour- 
ished ;  its  importance  has  been  more  fully  recognized,  its  problems 


Catiioi,ic  War  Activities  33 

more  widely  discussed,  Uie  means  of  giving  and  obtaining  it  more 
freely  supplied.  While  its  aim  has  been  to  raise  the  intellectual 
level  and  thereby  enhance  the  worth  of  the  individual,  experience 
has  shown  the  advantage  of  organized  effort  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  any  purpose  in  which  the  people  as  a  whole,  or  any  con- 
siderable portion,  has  an  interest.  Hence  the  remarkable  develop- 
ment of  associations  which,  though  invested  with  no  authority, 
have  become  powerful  enough  to  shape  public  opinion  and  even 
to  afifect  the  making  of  laws.  If,  in  some  instances,  the  power 
of  association  has  been  directed  toward  ends  that  were  at  variance 
with  the  general  good  and  by  methods  which  created  disturbance, 
there  has  been,  on  the  whole,  a  willingness  to  respect  authority 
an(,l  to  abide  by  its  decisions. 

Thus,  as  it  appeared,  the  whole  trend  of  human  affairs  was 
securing  the  world  in  peace.  The  idea  of  war  was  farthest  from 
the  minds  of  the  peoples.  The  possibility  of  war  had  ceased  to 
be  a  subject  for  serious  discussion.  To  adjust  their  disputes,  the 
nations  had  set  up  a  tribunal.  The  volume  of  seeming  prosperity 
swelled. 

CATHOLIC  WAR  ACTIVITIES 

Once  it  had  been  decided  that  our  country  should  enter  the 
War,  no  words  of  exhortation  were  needed  to  arouse  the  Cath.-olic 
spirit.  This  had  been  shown  in  every  national  crisis.  It  had 
stirred  to  eloquent  expression  the  Fathers  of  the  Third  Plenary 
Council. 

"We  consider  the  establishment  of  our  country's  independence, 
the  shaping  of  its  liberties  and  laws,  as  a  work  of  special  Provi- 
dence, its  framers  'buihHng  better  than  they  knew,'  the  Almighty's 
hand  guiding  them.  .  .  .'  We  believe  that  our  country's  heroes 
were  the  instruments  of  the  God  of  nations  in  establishing  this 
home  of  freedom;  to  both  the  Almighty  and  to  His  instruments 
in  the  work  we  look  with  grateful  reverence ;  and  to  maintain  the 
inheritance  of  freedom  which  they  have  left  us,  should  it  ever 
— which  God  forbid — be  imperilled,  our  Catholic  citizens  will  be 
found  to  stand  forward  as  one  man,  ready  to  pledge  anew  'their 
lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor.'  " 


34  Pastoral  Letter 

The  prediction  has  been  fulfilled.  The  traditional  patriotism 
of  our  Catholic  people  has  been  amply  demonstrated  in  the  day 
of  their  country's  trial.  And  we  look  with  pride  upon  the  record 
which  proves,  as  no  mere  protestation  could  prove,  the  devotion 
of  American  Catholics  to  the  cause  of  American  freedom. 

To  safeguard  the  moral  and  physical  welfare  of  our  Catholic 
soldiers  and  sailors,  organized  action  was  needed.  The  excellent 
work  already  accomplished  by  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  pointed 
the  way  to  further  undertaking.  The  unselfish  patriotism  with 
which  our  various  societies  combined  their  forces  in  the  Catholic 
Young  Men's  Association,  the  enthusiasm  manifested  by  the  or- 
ganizations of  Catholic  women,  and  the  eagerness  of  our  clergy 
to  support  the  cause  of  the  nation,  made  it  imperative  to  unify 
the  energies  of  the  whole  Catholic  body  and  direct  them  toward 
the  American  purpose.  With  this  end  in  view,  the  National  Cath- 
olic War  Council  was  formed  by  the  Hierarchy.  Through  the 
Committee  on  Special  War  Activities  and  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus Committee  on  War  Activities,  the  efforts  of  our  people  in 
various  lines  were  coordinated  and  rendered  more  effective,  both 
in  providing  for  the  spiritual  needs  of  all  Catholics  under  arms 
and  in  winning  our  country's  success.  This  unified  action  was 
worthy  of  the  Catholic  name.  It  was  in  keeping  with  the  pledge 
which  the  Hierarchy  had  given  our  Government:  "Our  people, 
now  as  ever,  will  rise  as  one  man  to  serve  the  nation.  Our 
priests  and  consecrated  women  will  once  again,  as  in  every  former 
trial  of  our  country,  win  by  their  bravery,  their  heroism  and  their 
service  new  admiration  and  approval"  (Letter  to  the  President, 
April  18,  1917). 

To  our  Chaplains  especially  we  give  the  credit  that  is  their 
due  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  obligations.  In  the 
midst  of  danger  and  difficulty,  under  the  new  and  trying  circum- 
stances which  war  inevitably  brings,  they  acted  as  priests. 

The  account  of  our  men  in  the  Service  adds  a  new  page  to  the 
record  of  Catholic  loyalty.  It  is  what  we  expected  and  what 
they  took  for  granted.     But  it  has  a  significance  that  will  be  fairly 


Catholic  Welfare  Council  3S 

appreciated  when  normal  conditions  return.     To  many  assertions 
it  answers  with  one  plain  fact. 

THE  NATIONAL  CATHOLIC  WELFARE  COUNCIL 

In  view  of  the  results  obtained  through  the  merging  of  our 
activities  for  the  time  and  purpose  of  war,  we  determined  to  main- 
tain, for  the  ends  of  peace,  the  spirit  of  union  and  the  coordina- 
tion of  our  forces.  We  have  accordingly  grouped  together,  under 
the  National  Catholic  Welfare  Council,  the  various  agencies  by 
which  the  cause  of  religion  is  furthered.  Each  of  these,  contin- 
uing its  own  special  work  in  its  chosen  field,  will  now  derive 
additional  support  through  general  cooperation.  And  all  will  be 
brought  into  closer  contact  with  the  Hierarchy,  which  bears  the 
burden  alike  of  authority  and  of  responsibility  for  the  interests 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  Council  and,  immediately,  of  the 
Administrative  Committee,  several  Departments  have  been  estab- 
lished, each  with  a  specific  function,  as  follows : 

The  Department  of  Education,  to  study  the  problems  and  con- 
ditions which  affect  the  work  and  development  of  our  Catholic 
schools ; 

The  Department  of  Social  Welfare,  to  coordinate  those  activ- 
ities which  aim  at  improving  social  conditions  in  accordance  with 
the  spirit  of  the  Church; 

The  Department  of  Press  and  Literature,  to  systematize  the 
work  of  publication; 

The  Department  of  Societies  and  Lay  Activities,  to  secure  a 
more  thoroughly  unified  action  among  our  Catholic  organizations. 

For  the  development  and  guidance  of  missionary  activity,  pro- 
vision has  been  made  through  The  American  Board  of  Catholic 
Missions,  which  will  have  in  charge  both  the  Home  and  the 
Foreign  IMissions. 

The  organization  of  these  Departments  is  now  in  progress. 
To  complete  it,  time  and  earnest  cooperation  will  be  required. 
The  task  assigned  to  each  is  so  laborious  and  yet  so  promising 
of  results,  that  we  may  surely  expect,  with  the  Divine  assistance 


36  Pastoral  Letter 

and  the  loyal  support  of  our  clergy  and  people,  to  promote  more 
effectually  the  glory  of  God,  the  interests  of  His  Church,  and 
the  welfare  of  our  country. 

LESSONS  OF  THE  WAR 

In  order  that  our  undertakings  may  be  wisely  selected  and  pru- 
dently carried  on,  we  should  consider  seriously  the  lessons  of  tl:te 
War,  the  nature  of  our  present  situation  and  the  principles  which 
must  guide  the  adjustment  of  all  our  relations. 

Our  estimate  of  the  War  begins,  naturally,  with  the  obvious 
facts:  with  the  number  of  peoples  involved,  the  vastness  and 
effectfveness  of  then-  armaments,  the  outlay  in  treasure  and  toil, 
the  destruction  of  life  and  the  consequent  desolation  which  still 
lies  heavy  on  the  nations  of  Europe.  Beside  these  visible  aspects, 
we  know  somewhat  of  the  spiritual  suffering — of  the  sorrow  and 
hopelessness  which  have  stricken  the  souls  of  men.  And  deeper 
than  these,  beyond  our  power  of  estimation,  is  the  moral  evil, 
the  wrong  whose  magnitude  only  the  Searcher  of  hearts  can 
determine. 

For  we  may  not  forget  that  in  all  this  strife  of  the  peoples, 
in  the  loosening  of  passion  and  the  seething  of  hate,  sin  abounded. 
Not  the  rights  of  man  alone  but  the  law  of  God  was  openly  disre- 
garded. And  if  we  come  before  Him  now  in  thankfulness,  we 
must  come  with  contrite  hearts,  in  all  humility  beseeching  Him 
that  He  continue  His  mercies  toward  us,  and  enable  us  so  to  order 
our  human  relations  that  we  may  both  atone  for  our  past  trans- 
gressions and  strengthen  the  bond  of  peace  with  a  deeper  charity 
for  our  fellowmen  and  purer  devotion  to  His  service. 

We  owe  it  to  His  goodness  that  our  country  has  been  spared 
the  suffering  and  desolation  which  war  has  spread  so  widely.  Our 
homes;  our  natural  resources,  our  means  of  intercourse  and  the 
institutions  which  uphold  the  life  of  our  nation,  have  all  been 
preserved.  We  are  free,  without  let  or  hindrance,  to  go  forward 
in  the  paths  of  industry,  of  culture,  of  social  improvement  and 
moral  reform.  The  sense  of  opportunity  has  quickened  us,  a:nd 
we  turn  with  eagerness  to  a  future  that  offers  us  boundless 
advantage. 


Present  Situation  37 

Let  us  not  turn  hastily.  Our  recent  experience  has  tauj,dit  us 
innumerable  lessons,  too  full  and  profound  to  be  mastered  at 
once.  Their  ultimate  meaning  a  later  generation  will  ponder  and 
comprehend.  But  even  now  we  can  recognize  the  import  of  this 
conspicuous  fact:  a  great  nation,  conscious  of  power  yet  wholly 
given  to  peace  and  unskilled  in  the  making  of  war,  gathered  its 
might  and  put  forth  its  strength  in  behalf  of  freedom  and  right 
as  the  inalienable  endowment  of  all  mankind.  When  its  aims 
were  accomplished,  it  laid  down  its  arms,  without  gain  or  acqui- 
sition, save  in  the  clearer  understanding  of  its  own  ideals  and  the 
fuller  appreciation  of  the  blessings  which  freedom  alone  can 
bestow. 

The  achievement  was  costly.  It  meant  interruption  of  peace- 
ful pursuits,  hardship  at  home  and  danger  abroad.  Not  one 
class  or  state  or  section,  but  the  people  as  a  whole  had  to  take 
up  the  burden.  This  spirit  of  union  and  sacrifice  for  the  common 
weal,  found  its  highest  expression  in  the  men  and  women  who 
went  to  do  service  in  distant  lands.  To  them,  and  especially  to 
those  who  died  that  America  might  live,  we  are  forever  indebted. 
Their  triumph  over  self  is  the  real  victory,  their  loyalty  the  real 
honor  of  our  nation,  their  fidelity  to  duty  the  bulwark  of  our 
freedom. 

To  such  men  and  their  memory,  eulogy  is  at  best  a  poor  tribute. 
We  shall  not  render  them  their  due  nor  show  ourselves  worthy 
to  name  them  as  our  own,  unless  we  inherit  their  spirit  and  make 
it  the  soul  of  our  national  life.  The  very  monuments  we  raise 
in  their  honor  will  become  a  reproach  to  us,  if  we  fail  in  those 
things  of  which  they  have  left  us  such  splendid  example. 

THE  PRESENT  SITUATION 

We  entered  the  War  with  the  highest  of  objects,  proclaiming 
at  every  step  that  we  battled  for  the  right  and  pointing  to  our 
country  as  a  model  for  the  world's  imitation.  We  accepted  there- 
with the  responsibility  of  leadership  in  accomplishing  the  task  that 
lies  before  mankind.  The  world  awaits  our  fulfillment.  Pope 
Benedict  himself  has  declared  that  our  people,  "retaining  a  most 


38  Pastoral  Letter 

firm  hold  on  the  principles  of  reasonable  liberty  and  of  Christian 
civilization,  are  destined  to  have  the  chief  role  in  the  restoration 
of  peace  and  order  on  the  basis  of  those  same  principles,  when 
the  violence  of  these  tempestuous  days  shall  have  passed"  (Letter 
to  the  Hierarchy,  April  10,  1919). 

This  beyond  doubt  is  a  glorious  destiny,  far  more  in  keeping 
with  the  aims  of  our  people  than  the  triumph  of  armies  or  the 
conquest  of  wider  domain.  Nor  is  it  an  impossible  destiny,  pro- 
vided we  exemplify  in  our  own  national  life  "the  principles  of 
reasonable  liberty  and  of  Christian  civilization." 

At  present,  however,  we  are  confronted  with  problems  at  home 
that  give  us  the  gravest  concern.  Intent  as  we  were  on  restoring 
the  order  of  Europe,  we  did  not  sufficiently  heed  the  symptoms 
of  unrest  in  our  country,  nor  did  we  reckon  with  movements 
which,  in  their  final  result,  would  undo  both  our  recent  achieve- 
ment and  all  that  America  has  so  far  accomplished. 

These  are  due,  partly,  to  the  disturbance  which  war  invariably 
causes,  by  turning  men  away  from  their  usual  occupations,  by 
reducing  production,  increasing  taxation  and  adding  to  the  num- 
ber of  those  who  are  dependent  and  helpless.  The  majority  of 
the  people  do  not  realize  to  what  an  extent  the  necessities  of  war 
diverted  industrial  and  other  activities  from  their  ordinary  course. 
There  naturally  results  irritation  and  impatience  at  the  slowness 
with  which  reconstruction  proceeds. 

Deeper  and  more  ominous  is  the  ferment  in  the  souls  of  men, 
that  issues  in  agitation  not  simply  against  defects  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  existing  order,  but  also  against  that  order  itself,  its 
framework  and  very  foundation.  In  such  a  temper  men  see  only 
the  facts — the  unequal  distribution  of  wealth,  power  and  worldly 
advantage — and  against  the  facts  they  rebel.  But  they  do  not 
discern  the  real  causes  that  produce  those  efifects,  and  much  less 
the  adequate  means  by  which  both  causes  and  effects  can  be 
removed.  Hence,  in  the  attempt  at  remedy,  methods  are  em- 
ployed which  result  in  failure,  and  beget  a  more  hopeless  con- 
fusion. 

To  men  of  clearer  vision  and  calmer  judgment,  there  comes  the 


Present  Situation  39 

realization  that  the  things  on  which  they  relied  for  the  world's 
security,  have  broken  under  the  strain.  The  advance  of  civiliza- 
tion, the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  the  unlimited  freedom  of 
thought,  the  growing  relaxation  of  moral  restraint — all  these,  it 
was  believed,  had  given  such  ample  scope  to  individual  aims  and 
desires  that  conflict,  if  it  arose  at  all,  could  be  readily  and  thor- 
oughly adjusted. 

The  assumption  is  not  borne  out  by  the  facts.  On  the  contrary, 
as  in  the  War  destruction  was  swifter  and  wider  because  of  the 
progress  of  science,  so  our  present  situation  is  complicated  by  in- 
creased ability  to  plan,  to  organize  and  to  execute  in  any  direction 
that  may  lead  to  any  success.  Education  provided  at  the  public 
expense  can  now  be  used  as  the  strongest  means  of  attacking  the 
public  weal ;  and  to  this  end  it  will  surely  be  used  unless  thinking 
and  doing  be  guided  by  upright  motives.  The  consciousness  of 
power,  quickened  by  our  achievement  in  war  but  no  longer 
checked  by  discipline  nor  directed  to  one  common  purpose,  has 
aroused  parties,  organizations  and  even  individuals  to  a  boldness 
of  undertaking  hitherto  unknown.  The  result  is  an  effort  to  press 
onward  in  the  pursuit  of  self-appointed  ends,  with  little  regard 
for  principles  and  still  less  for  the  altruism  which  we  professed 
on  entering  the  War. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  true,  intelligence,  initiative  and  energy 
have  been  exerted  to  accomplish  higher  and  worthier  aims.  It 
was  thought  that  the  enthusiasm  and  eagerness  for  service  which 
war  had  called  forth,  might  easily  be  directed  toward  useful  and 
needed  reforms.  With  this  persuasion  for  their  impulse  and  guid- 
ance, various  movements  have  been  inaugurated  either  to  uproot 
some  evil  or  to  further  some  promising  cause. 

Now  it  is  obvious  that  neither  the  pursuit  of  lofty  ideals  nor 
earnest  devotion  to  the  general  welfare,  can  do  away  with  the 
fact  that  we  are  facing  grave  peril.  Much  less  can  we  hide  that 
fact  from  view  by  increasing  the  means  and  following  the  inclina- 
tion to  pleasure.  No  sadder  contrast  indeed  can  be  found  than 
that  which  appears  between  careless  enjoyment  in  countless  forms, 
and  the  grim  struggle  that  is  shaking  the  foundations  of  social 


40  Pastokal  Letter 

existence.     Craving  for  excitement  and  its  reckless  gratification 
may  blind  ns  to  danger ;  but  the  danger  is  none  the  less  real. 

The  practical  conclusion  which  the  present  situation  forces  upon 
us,  is  this :  to  bring  order  out  of  confusion,  we  must  first  secure 
a  sound  basis  and  then  build  up  consistently.  Mere  expedients 
no  longer  suffice.  To  cover  up  evil  with  a  varnish  x3f  respecta- 
bility or  to  rear  a  grand  structure  on  the  quicksand  of  error,  is 
downright  folly.  In  spite  of  great  earnestness  on  the  part  of 
their  leaders,  reforms  without  number  have  failed,  because  they 
moved  along  the  surface  of  life,  smoothing  indeed  its  outward 
defects,  yet  leaving  the  source  of  corruption  within. 

Christ  and  the  Church 

One  true  reform  the  world  has  known.  It  was  effected,  not 
by  force,  agitation  or  theory,  but  by  a  Life  in  which  the  perfect 
ideal  was  visibly  realized,  becoming  the  "light  of  men."  That 
light  has  not  grown  dim  with  the  passing  of  time.  Men  have 
turned  their  eyes  away  from  it;  even  His  followers  have  strayed 
from  its  pathway;  but  the  truth  and  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  are 
real  and  clear  today — for  all  who  are  willing  to  see.  There  is  no 
other  name  under  heaven  whereby  the  world  can  be  saved. 

Through  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  and  His  living  example,  mankind 
learned  the  meaning,  and  received  the  blessing,  of  liberty.  In  His 
person  was  shown  the  excellence  and  true  dignity  of  human  na- 
ture, wherein  human  rights  have  their  center.  In  His  dealings 
with  men,  justice  and  mercy,  sympathy  and  courage,  pity  for 
weakness  and  rebuke  for  hollow  pretence,  were  perfectly  blended. 
Having  fulfilled  the  law.  He  gave  to  His  followers  a  new  com- 
mandment. Having  loved  His  own  wdio  were  in  the  world.  He 
loved  them  to  the  end.  And  since  He  came  that  they  might  have 
life  and  have  it  more  abundantly.  He  gave  it  to  them  through  His 
death. 

The  Church  which  Christ  established  has  continued  His  work, 
upholding  the  dignity  of  man,  defending  the  rights  of  the  people, 
relieving  distress,  consecrating  sacrifice  and  binding  all  classes 
together  in  the  love  of  their  Saviour.     The  combination  of  author- 


Present  Situation  41 

ity  ami  reasonable  freciluni  which  is  the  principal  element  in  the 
organization  of  the  Church,  is  also  indispensable  in  our  social 
relations.  Without  it,  there  can  be  neither  order  nor  law  nor 
genuine  freedom. 

Rut  the  Church  itself  would  have  been  powerless  save  for  the 
abiding  presence  of  Christ  and  his  Spirit.  "Without  me,  you  can 
do  nothing";  but  again,  "Behold  I  am  with  you  all  days."  Both 
these  sayings  are  as  true  to-day  as  when  they  were  spoken  by 
the  Master.  There  may  be  philosophies  and  ideals  and  schemes 
of  reform;  the  wise  may  deliberate  and  the  powerful  exert  their 
midit;  but  when  the  souls  of  men  have  to  be  reached  and  trans- 
formed  to  a  better  sense,  that  justice  may  reign  and  charity 
abound,  then  more  than  ever  is  it  true  that  without  Christ  our 
efforts  are  vain. 

The  Solirces  of  Evil 

Instructed  by  His  example,  the  Church  deals  with  men  as  they 
reall}-  are,  recognizing  both  the  capacities  for  good  and  the  incli- 
nations to  evil  that  are  in  every  human  being.  Exaggeration  in 
either  direction  is  an  error.  That  the  world  has  progressed  in 
many  respects,  is  obviously  true;  but  it  is  equally  plain  that  the 
nature  of  man  is  what  it  was  twenty  centuries  ago.  Those  who 
overlooked  this  fact,  were  amazed  at  the  outbreak  of  war  among 
nations  that  w'ere  foremost  in  progress.  But  now  it  is  evident 
that  beneath  the  surface  of  civilization  lay  smoldering  the  pas- 
sions and  jealousies  that  in  all  time  past  had  driven  the  nations 
to  conflict.  Pope  Benedict  expressed  this  truth  when  he  pointed 
to  the  causes  of  war ;  lack  of  mutual  good  wih,  contempt  for  au- 
thority, conflict  of  class  with  class,  and  absorption  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  perishable  goods  of  this  world,  wdth  utter  disregard  of 
things  that  are  nobler  and  worthier  of  human  endeavor.  (Encyc. 
Ad  bcatissimi  Nov.  1,  1914.) 

These  are  the  seed  and  prolific  sources  of  evil.  As  tendencies 
perhaps,  they  cannot  be  wdiolly  extirpated ;  but  to  justify  them  as 
principles  of  action,  to  train  them  into  systems  of  philosophy 
and  let  them,  through  education,  become  the  thought  of  the  peo- 


42  Pastoral  Letter 

pie,  would  be  fatal  to  all  our  true  interests.     As  long  as  the  teach- 
ing of  false  theory  continues,  we  cannot  expect  that  men  will  act 
in  accordance  with  truth.     It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  philos- 
ophy kas  a  meaning  for  only  the  chosen  few  who  enjoy  the  ad- 
vantage of  higher  education  and  leisurely  thinking;  and  it  is  worse 
than  a  mistake  to  punish  men  for  acting  out  pernicious  ideas, 
while  the  development  and  diffusion  of  those  same  ideas  is  re- 
warded as  advancement  of  knowledge.     We  surely  need  no  fur-  ' 
ther  proof  of  the  dangers  of  materialism,  of  atheism  and  of  other 
doctrines  that  banish  God  from  His  world,  degrade  man  to  the 
level  of  the  brute  and  reduce  the  moral  order  to  a  struggle  for 
existence.     Argument  against  such  doctrines,  or  theoretical  test- 
ing of  their  value,  is  superfluous,  now  that  we  see  the  result  of 
their  practical  application.     And    while,  with    every    legitimate 
means  we  strive,  as  we  must,  to  uphold  the  rights  of  the  public 
by  the  maintenance  of  order,  let  us  be  fully  convinced  that  we  are 
dealing  with  the  final  and  logical  outcome  of  false  doctrine.     Here 
again  the  source  lies  farther  back.     H  we  find  that  the  fruit  is 
evil,  we  should  know  what  to  do  with  the  root. 

The  Fundamental  Error 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  growth  of  knowledge  and  its  appli- 
cation to  practical  needs  have  made  the  earth  a  better  habitation 
for  man ;  many  appear  to  consider  it  as  his  first  and  only  abode. 
As  the  means  of  enjoyment  are  multiplied,  there  is  an  increasing 
tendency  to  become  absorbed  in  worldly  pursuits  and  to  neglect 
those  which  belong  to  our  eternal  welfare.     The  trend  of  specu- 
lative thought  is  in  the  same  direction ;  for  while  the  development 
of  science  continually  affords  us  evidence  of  law  and  order  and 
purpose  in  the  world  about  us,  many  refuse  to  acknowledge  in 
creation  the  work  of  an  intelligent  author.     They  profess  to  see 
in  the  universe  only  the  manifestation  of  a  Power,  whose  effects 
are  absolutely  determined  through  the  operation  of  mechanical 
forces;  and  they  extend  this  conception  to  life  and  all  its  rela- 
tions.    But  once  this  view  is  accepted,  it  is  easy  to  draw  the  con- 
clusion that  the  really  decisive  factor  in  human  affairs  is  force. 


Present  Situation  43 

Whether  by  cunning  or  by  violence,  the  stronger  is  sure  to  prevail. 
It  is  a  law  unto  itself  and  it  is  accountable  to  none  other,  since 
the  idea  of  a  Supreme  Lawgiver  has  vanished. 

This  indeed  is  the  root-evil  whence  spring  the  immediate  causes 
of  our  present  condition.  God,  from  whom  all  things  are  and  on 
whom  all  things  depend,  the  Creator  and  Ruler  of  men,  tlie  source 
and  sanction  of  righteousness,  the  only  Judge  who  with  perfect 
justice  can  weigh  the  deeds  and  read  the  hearts  of  men,  has, 
practically  at  least,  disappeared  from  the  whole  conception  of  life 
so  far  as  this  is  dominated  by  a  certain  type  of  modern  thought. 
Wherever  this  sort  of  thinking  is  taken  as  truth,  there  is  set  up 
a  scheme  of  life,  individual,  social  and  political,  which  seeks,  not 
in  the  eternal  but  in  the  human  and  transitory,  its  ultimate  foun- 
dation. The  law  of  morals  is  regarded  as  a  mere  convention 
arranged  by  men  to  secure  and  enjoy  the  goods  of  this  present 
time ;  and  conscience  itself  as  simply  a  higher  form  of  the  instinct 
whereby  the  animal  is  guided.  And  yet  withal  it  lies  in  the  very 
nature  of  man  that  something  must  be  supreme,  something  must 
take  the  place  of  the  divine  when  this  has  been  excluded;  and  tliis 
substitute  for  God,  according  to  a  predominant  philosophy,  is  the 
State.  Possessed  of  unlimited  power  to  establish  rights  and  im- 
pose obligations,  the  State  becomes  the  sovereign  ruler  in  human 
affairs;  its  will  is  the  last  word  of  justice,  its  welfare  the  deter- 
minant of  moral  values,  its  service  the  final  aim  of  man's  exist- 
ence and  action. 

God  the  Supreme  Ruler 

When  such  an  estimate  of  life  and  its  purpose  is  accepted,  it 
is  idle  to  speak  of  the  supreme  value  of  righteousness,  the  sacred- 
ness  of  justice  or  the  sanctity  of  conscience.  Nevertheless,  these 
are  things  that  must  be  retained,  in  name  and  in  reality :  the  only 
alternative  is  that  supremacy  of  force  against  which  humanity 
protests.  To  make  the  protest  effectual,  it  is  imperative  that  we 
recognize  in  God  the  source  of  justice  and  right ;  in  His  law,  the 
sovereign  rule  of  life;  in  the  destiny  which  He  has  appointed  for 
us,  the  Ultimate  standard  by  which  all  values  are  fixed  and  deter- 


44  Pastoral  Letter 

mined.  Reverent  acknowledgment  of  our  dependence  on  Him 
and  our  responsibility  to  Him,  acknowledgment  not  in  word  alone 
but  in  the  conduct  of  our  lives,  is  at  once  our  highest  duty  and 
our  strongest  title  to  the  enjoyment  of  our  rights.  This  ac- 
knowledgment we  express  in  part  by  our  service  of  prayer  and 
worship.  But  prayer  and  worship  will  not  avail,  unless  we  also 
render  the  broader  service  of  good  will  which,  in  conformity  with 
His  will,  follows  the  path  of  duty  in  every  sphere  of  life. 

As  we  are  not  the  authors  of  our  own  being,  so  we  are  not,  in 
an  absolute  sense,  masters  of  ourselves  and  of  our  powers.  We 
may  not  determine  for  ourselves  the  ultimate  aim  of  our  exist- 
ence or  the  means  of  its  attainment.  God  has  established,  by  the 
very  constitution  of  our  nature,  the  end  for  which  He  created  us, 
giving  us  life  as  a  sacred  trust  to  be  administered  in  accordance 
with  His  design.  Thereby  He  has  also  established  the  norm  of 
our  individual  worth,  and  the  basis  of  our  real  independence. 
Obedience  to  His  law,  making  our  wills  identical  with  His,  invests 
us  with  a  personal  dignity  which  neither  self-assertion  nor  the 
approval  of  others  can  ever  bestow.  The  man  who  bows  in  obe- 
dience to  the  law  of  his  Maker,  rises  above  himself  and  above  the 
world  to  an  independence  that  has  no  bounds  save  the  Infinite. 
To  do  as  God  commands,  whatever  the  world  may  think  or  say, 
is  to  be  free,  not  by  human  allowance  but  under  the  approval  of 
Him  whose  service  is  perfect  freedom. 

In  the  light  of  this  central  truth,  we  can  understand  and  appre- 
ciate the  principle  on  which  our  American  liberties  are  founded 
— "that  all  men  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalien- 
able rights."  These  are  conferred  by  God  with  equal  bounty 
upon  every  human  being,  and  therefore,  in  respect  of  life,  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  the  same  rights  belong  to  all  men 
and  for  the  same  reason.  Not  by  mutual  concession  or  covenant, 
not  by  warrant  or  grant  from  the  State,  are  these  rights  estab- 
lished; they  are  the  gift  and  bestowal  of  God.  In  consequence 
of  this  endowment,  and  therefore  in  obedience  to  the  Creator's 
will,  each  of  us  is  bound  to  respect  the  rights  of  his  fellowmen. 
This  is  the  essential  meaning  of  j'lsticc,  the  great  law  antecedent 


Justice  45 

• 
to  all  human  enactment  and  contrivance,  the  only  foundation  on 
which  may  rest  securely  the  fabric  of  society  and  the  structure  of 
our  political,  legal  and  economic  systems. 

JLTSTICE 

The  obligation  to  give  every  man  his  due,  is  binding  at  all  times 
an  '  under  all  conditions.  It  permits  no  man  to  say,  I  will  be 
just  only  when  justice  falls  in  with  my  aims,  or  furthers  my 
interests;  and  I  will  refrain  from  injustice  when  this  would  ex- 
pose me  to  failure,  to  loss  of  reputation  or  to  penalty  enacted  by 
law.  The  obligation  is  binding  in  conscience,  that  representative 
of  God  which  He  has  established  in  our  innermost  selves,  which 
requires  our  obedience  not  merely  out  of  self-respect  or  as  a 
matter  of  our  preference,  but  as  speaking  in  His  name  and  ex- 
pressing His  mandate. 

Let  this  spirit  of  justice  and  conscientious  observance  prevail 
in  the  dealings  of  man  with  man:  it  will  soon  determine  what 
practices  are  honest,  what  methods  are  justified  by  the  necessities 
of  competition,  by  economic  law,  by  opportunity  of  profit,  by  the 
silence  of  the  civil  law  or  the  laxity  of  its  administration.  It 
will  weigh  in  the  same  even  balance  the  deeds  of  every  man, 
whatever  his  station  or  power;  and  it  will  appraise  at  their  true 
moral  value  all  schemes  and  transactions,  whether  large  or  small, 
whether  conducted  by  individuals  or  groups  or  complex  organ- 
izations. 

The  same  spirit  of  justice  that  condemns  dishonesty  in  private 
dealings,  must  condemn  even  more  emphatically  any  and  every 
attempt  on  the  part  of  individuals  to  further  their  interests  at  the 
expense  of  the  public  welfare.  The  upright  citizen  refuses  as  a 
matter  of  conscience  to  defraud  his  neighbor,  to  violate  his  pledges 
or  to  take  unfair  advantage.  Likewise,  in  his  business  relations 
with  the  community  as  a  whole,  whatever  the  character  of  his 
service,  he  is  careful  to  observe  the  prescriptions  of  justice.  He 
feels  that  if  it  is  wrong  to  overreach  or  circumvent  his  brother 
in  any  matter,  the  wrong  is  not  less  but  far  more  grievous  when 
inflicted  on  the  commonwealth. 


46  Pastoral  Letter 

Origin  of  Authority 

The  triae  remedy  for  many  of  the  disorders  with  which  we  are 
troubled,  is  to  be  found  in  a  clearer  understanding  of  civil  author- 
ity.    Rulers  and  people  alike  must  be  guided  by  the  truth  that 
I    the  State  is  not  merely  an  invention  of  human  forethought,  that 
its  power  is  not  created  by  human  agreement  or  even  by  nature's 
device.     Destined  as  we  are  by  our  IMaker  to  live  together  in 
A  social  intercourse  and  mutual  cooperation  for  the  fulfilment  of 
/  our   duties,   the   proper   development   of   our    faculties   and   the 
/   adequate  satisfaction  of  our  wants,  our  association  can  be  orderly 
I    and  prosperous  only  when  the  wills  of  the  many  are  directed 
\  by  that  moral  power  which  we  call  authority.    This  is  the  unifying 
land  coordinating  principle  of  the  social  structure.    It  has  its  origin 
I  in  God  alone.     In  whom  it  shall  be  vested  and  by  whom  exer- 
cised, is  determined  in  various  ways,  sometimes  by  the  outcome 
of  circumstances  and  providential  events,  sometimes  by  the  ex- 
press will  of  the  people.     But  the  right  which  it  possesses  to 
legislate,  to  execute  and  administer,  is  derived  from  God  himself. 
"There  is  no  power  but  from  God;  and  those  that  are,  are  or- 
dained  of   God"    (Romans   XIII,    1).     Consequently,   "he   that 
resisteth  the  power,  resisteth  the  ordinance  of  God"  {Ibid.  2). 

Powers  of  the  State 

The  State,  then,  has  a  sacred  claim  upon  our  respect  and 
loyalty.  It  may  justly  impose  obligations  and  demand  sacrifices, 
for  the  sake  of  the  common  welfare  which  it  is  established  to 
promote.  It  is  the  means  to  an  end,  not  an  end  in  itself;  and 
becauseit  receives  its  power  from  God,  it  cannot  rightfully  exert 
that  power  through  any  act  or  measure  that  would  be  at  variance 
with  tlie  divine  law,  or  with  the  divine  economy  for  man's  salva- 
tion. As  long  as  the  State  remains  within  its  proper  limits  and  really 
furthers  the  common  good,  it  has  a  right  to  our  obedience.  And 
this  obedience  we  are  bound  to  render,  not  merely  on  grounds  of 
expediency  but  as  a  conscientious  duty.  "Be  subject  of  neces- 
sity, not  only  for  wrath  but  also  for  conscience  sake"  {Ihid.  5). 

The  end  for  which  the  State  exists  and  for  which  authority  is 


Justice  47 

given  it,  determines  the  limit  of  its  powers.  It  raust  respect  and 
protect  the  chvinely  estabhshed  rights  of  the  individual  and  of 
the  family.  It  must  safeguard  the  liberty  of  all,  so  that  none 
shall  encroach  upon  the  rights  of  others.  But  it  may  not  right- 
fully hinder  the  citizen  in  the  discharge  of  his  conscientious  obli- 
gation, and  much  less  in  the  performance  of  duties  which  he  owes 
to  God.  To  all  commands  that  would  prevent  him  from  worship- 
ping the  Creator  in  spirit  and  truth,  the  citizen  will  uphold  his 
right  by  saying  with  the  Apostles :  "We  ought  to  obey  God  rather 
than  men"  (Acts  V,  29). 

Where  the  State  protects  all  in  the  reasonable  exercise  of  their 
rights,  there  liberty  exists.  "The  nature  of  human  liberty,"  says 
Leo  XIII,  "however  it  be  considered,  whether  in  the  individual 
or  in  society,  whether  in  those  who  are  governed  or  in  those  who 
govern,  supposes  the  necessity  of  obedience  to  a  supreme  and 
eternal  law,  which  is  no  other  than  the  authority  of  God,  com- 
manding good  and  forbidding  evil ;  and  so  far  from  destroying 
or  even  diminishing  their  liberty,  the  just  authority  of  God  over 
men  protects  it  and  makes  it  perfect"  (Encyc.  Libertas  praestan- 
tissiniiim,  June  20,  1888). 

The  State  itself  should  be  the  first  to  appreciate  the  Importance 
of  religion  for  the  preservation  of  the  common  weal.  It  can  ill 
afford  at  any  time,  and  least  of  all  in  the  present  condition  of  the 
world,  to  reject  the  assistance  which  Christianity  offers  for  the 
maintenance  of  peace  and  order.  "Let  princes  and  rulers  of  the 
people,"  says  Pope  Benedict  XV,  "bear  this  in  mind  and  bethink 
themselves  whether  it  lie  wise  and  salutary,  either  for  public 
authority  or  for  the  nations  themselves,  to  set  aside  the  holy 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  which  that  very  authority  may  find 
such  powerful  support  and  defense.  Let  them  seriously  consider 
whether  it  be  the  part  of  political  wisdom  to  exclude  from  the 
ordinance  of  the  State  and  from  public  instruction,  the  teaching 
of  the  Gospel  and  of  tlie  Church.  Only  too  well  does  experience 
show  that  when  religion  is  banished,  human  authority  totters  to 
its  fall.  That  which  happened  to  the  first  of  our  race  when  he 
failed  in  his  duty  to  God,  usually  happens  to  nations  as  well. 


48  '  Pastorat-  T.etter 

Scarcely  had  the  will  in  him  rehellcd  against  God  when  the 
passions  arose  in  rebellion  against  the  will;  and  likewise,  when 
the  rulers  of  the  people  disdain  the  authority  of  God,  the  people 
in  turn  despise  the  authority  of  men.  There  remains,  it  is  true, 
the  usual  expedient  of  suppressing  rebellion  by  force;  but  to 
what  effect?  Force  subdues  the  bodies  of  men,  not  their  souls" 
(Encyc.  Ad  beatissimi,  November  1,  1914). 

CHARITY 

The  spiritual  endowment  of  man,  his  rights  and  his  liberties 
have  their  source  in  the  goodness  of  God.  Infinitely  just  as  Ruler 
of  the  world,  He  is  infinitely  good  as  Father  of  mankind.  He 
uses  His  supreme  authority  to  lay  upon  men  the  commandment 
of  love.  "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole 
heart,  and  with  thy  whole  soul,  and  with  thy  whole  mind.  This 
is  the  greatest  and  the  first  commandment.  And  the  second  is 
like  to  this:  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself"  (Matth. 
XXII,  37-39). 

Let  us  not  persuade  ourselves  that  we  have  fully  complied  with 
the  divine  law  in  regard  to  our  relations  with  our  fellowmen, 
when  we  have  carefully  discharged  all  the  obligations  of  justice. 
For  its  safeguard  and  completion,  the  stern  law  of  justice  looks 
to  the  gentler  but  none  the  less  obligatory  law  of  charity.  Justice 
presents  our  fellowman  as  an  exacting  creditor,  who  rightly  de- 
mands the  satisfaction  of  his  rightful  claims.  Charity  calls  on 
us  as  children  of  the  one  universal  family  whose  Father  is  God,  to 
cherish  for  one  another  active  brotherly  love  second  only  to  the 
love  which  we  owe  to  Him.  "It  is  not  enough,"  says  St.  Thomas, 
"that  peace  and  concord  reign  among  the  citizens :  love  also  must 
prevail.  Justice  prevents  them  from  injuring  one  another;  it 
does  not  require  them  to  help  one  another.  Yet  it  often  happens 
that  some  need  aid  which  falls  under  no  obligation  of  justice. 
Here  charity  steps  in  and  summons  us  to  further  service  in  the 
name  of  the  love  we  owe  to  God"  (Contra  Gentes,  III,  129). 
Though  different  in  kind  from  justice,  the  precept  of  charity 
imposes  duties  which  we  may  not  disregard.     To  love  the  neigh- 


Charity  49 

bor  is  not  simply  a  matter  of  o[)tiou  or  a  counsel  which  they 
may  follow  who  aim  at  moral  perfection :  it  is  a  divine  command 
that  is  equally  binding  on  all.  It  extends  beyond  kindred  and 
friends  to  include  all  men,  and  it  obligates  us  in  thought  and 
will  no  less  than  in  outward  action. 

As  commonly  understood,  charity  is  manifested  in  deeds  that 
tend  to  the  relief  of  suffering  in  any  of  its  various  forms,  or  that 
provide  opportunities  of  advancement  for  those  who  have  none, 
or  that  add  somewhat  to'  the  scant  pleasure  of  many  laborious 
lives.  And  these  beyond  question  are  deeds  that  deserve  all 
praise.  But  it  is  in  the  source  whence  they  come,  in  the  good 
will  which  prompts  them,  that  the  essence  of  charity  consists. 
W^e  may  love  others  from  a  sense  of  our  common  humanity, 
from  sympathy,  from  natural  pity  for  pain  and  distress.  Yet 
this  benevolence  is  securely  based  and  immeasurably  ennobled, 
when  it  is  quickened  with  the  higher  motive  of  love  for  God,  the 
heavenly  Father.  Then  the  i)ale  form  of  altruism  or  humani- 
tarianism  is  replaced  by  the  divine  presence  of  charity. 

By  its  very  nature,  charity  is  a  social  virtue.  Wherever  a 
social  group  is  formed — in  the  home,  the  community,  the  civic 
association — good  will  is  a  necessity.  It  is  charity  rather  than 
justice  that  overcomes  selfishness,  casts  out  rancour,  forbids 
hatred,  clears  away  misunderstanding,  leads  to  reconciliation. 
After  justice  has  rendered  impartial  decision,  it  is  charity  that 
brings  men  back  to  fellowship.  And  if  at  times  it  be  fitting  that 
mercy  should  season  justice,  the  quality  of  mercy  itself  is  but 
charity  touched  to  compassion. 

The  Law  of  the  Gospel 

The  law  of  charity  is  essentially  the  law  of  the  Gospel,  the 
"new  commandment"  which  Jesus  gave  His  disciples.  It  is  the 
distinctive  batlge  of  the  Christian:  "By  this  shall  all  men  know 
that  you  are  my  disciples,  if  you  have  love  one  for  another" 
(John  XIII,  35).  And  more  than  this:  the  Incarnation  itself 
was  evidence  of  the  divine  good  will  toward  men:  "By  this  hath 
the  charity  of  God  appeared  toward  us,  because  God  hath  sent 


50  Pastoral  Letter 

His  only  begotten  Son  into  the  world  that  we  may  live  by  Him" 
(I  John  IV,  9). 

It  is  therefore  significant  that,  as  the  world  moves  farther  away 
from  Christ  and  loses  the  spirit  of  His  teaching,  there  should  be 
less  and  less  of  the  charity  which  He  would  have  His  disciples 
to  practice.  On  the  other  hand,  we,  as  Christians,  must  ask  our- 
selves whether  we  have  so  fully  observed  the  "new  command- 
ment" of  love  as  to  leave  the  world  without  excuse  for  its  un- 
belief. There  are  countless  forms  of  charity  which  seek  no  pub- 
licity and  ask  no  earthly  reward :  these  the  world  could  hardly 
be  expected  to  know.  But  it  cannot  help  seeing  such  evidences 
of  love  as  appear  in  the  ordinary  conduct  of  genuine  Christians, 
in  their  daily  intercourse,  their  speech  and  habits  of  thought. 
That  men  in  exceptional  conditions  should  rise  to  great  heights 
of  self-sacrifice,  is  proof  indeed  of  a  natural  disposition,  which 
may  remain  latent  until  it  is  stirred  into  action  by  sudden  disaster 
or  national  peril ;  then  it  becomes  heroic.  Charity,  however,  does 
not  wait  for  such  occasions;  it  finds  its  opportunity  in  season, 
and  out  of  season,  and  it  makes  heroes  of  men  in  peace  no  less  than 
in  war.  This,  then,  should  be  our  concern,  this  constant  exercise 
of  good  will  toward  all  men,  that  they  may  see  in  us  the  disciples 
of  Christ  and  be  led  to  Him  through  the  power  of  love. 

SOCIAL  RELATIONS 

The  security  of  the  nation  and  the  efficiency  of  government 
for  the  general  weal  depend  largely  upon  the  standards  which  are 
adopted,  and  the  practices  which  are  admitted,  in  social  relations. 
This  is  characteristic  of  a  democracy,  wkere  the  makers  of  law 
are  commissioned  to  do  the  will  of  the  peeple.  In  matters  per- 
taining to  morality,  legislation  will  not  rise  above  the  level  estab- 
lished by  the  general  tone  and  tenor  of  society.  It  is  necessary, 
then,  for  the  preservation  of  national  life,  that  social  morality, 
in  its  usage  and  sanction,  be  sound  and  steadfast  and  pure. 

Marriage 
This  aim  can  be  accomplished  only  by  reaching  the  sources  in 
which  life  has  its  origin,  and  from  which  the  individual  character 


Social  Relations  51 

receives  its  initial  direction.  As  the  family  is  the  first  social 
group,  it  is  also  the  center  whose  influence  permeates  the  entire 
social  body.  And  since  family  life  takes  its  rise  from  the  union 
of  husband  and  wife,  tlie  sanctity  of  marriage  and  of  marital 
relations  is  of  prime  importance  for  the  purity  of  social  relations. 

The  esteem  in  which  marriage  is  held,  furnishes  an  index  of 
a  people's  morality.  If  honor  and  respect  be  due  an  institution 
in  proportion  to  its  sacredness,  its  significance  for  human  happi- 
ness and  the  measure  of  responsibility  which  it  implies,  marriage 
must  claim  the  reverence  of  every  mind  that  is  capable  of  paying 
tribute  to  anything  good.  A  lowering  of  the  general  estimate 
is  a  symptom  of  moral  decline. 

That  such  a  lowering  has  taken  place  is  due,  in  part,  to  the  dis- 
regard of  those  requirements  which  even  the  prospect  of  marriage 
imposes.  While  emphasis  is  laid,  and  rightly,  upon  physical 
qualifications,  not  sufficient  importance  is  attached  to  moral  fit- 
ness, the  real  basis  of  marital  happiness. 

It  is  essential,  in  the  first  place,  that  clean  living  before  marriage 
be  equally  obligatory  on  men  and  women.  The  toleration  of 
vicious  courses  in  one  party  while  the  other  is  strictly  held  to  the 
practice  of  virtue,  may  rest  on  convention  or  custom;  but  it  is 
ethically  false,  and  it  is  plainly  at  variance  with  the  law  of  God, 
which  enjoins  personal  purity  upon  each  and  all. 

Those  who  contemplate  marriage  should  further  make  sure 
that  their  motives  are  upright.  Where  the  dominant  aim  is  selfish, 
where  choice  is  controlled  by  ambition  or  greed,  and  where  super- 
ficial qualities  are  preferred  to  character,  genuine  love  is  out  of 
the  question:  such  marriages  are  bargains  rather  than  unions, 
and  their  only  result  is  discord. 

The  same  consequence  may  be  expected  from  one-sided  views 
of  the  marital  relation.  It  is  a  vain  idealism  that  anticipates  joy 
in  perfection,  but  takes  no  thought  of  the  mutual  forbearance 
which  is  constantly  needed,  or  of  the  courage  which  trial  demands, 
or  of  the  serious  obligations  which  family  life  implies.  Illusion 
in  such  matters  is  the  worst  kind  of  ignorance. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  idealism  of  the  truest  and  most  practical 


52  Pastoral  Letter 

sort  that  sees  in  marriage  the  divinely  appointed  plan  for  cooper- 
ating with  the  Creator  in  perpetuating  the  race,  and  that  accepts 
the  responsibility  of  bringing  children  into  the  world,  who  may 
prove  either  a  blessing  or  a  curse  to  society  at  large. 

Where  such  ideals  prevail,  the  fulfilment  of  marital  duties 
occasions  no  hardship.  Neither  is  there  any  consideration  for  the 
fraudulent  prudence  that  would  improve  upon  nature  by  defeating 
its  obvious  purpose,  and  would  purify  life  by  defiling  its  source. 
The  selfishness  which  leads  to  race  suicide,  with  or  without  the 
pretext  of  bettering  the  species,  is,  in  God's  sight,  "a  detestable 
thing"  (Gen.  XXXVIII,  10).  It  is  the  crime  of  individuals  for 
which,  eventually,  the  nation  must  suffer.  The  harm  which  it 
does  cannot  be  repaired  by  social  service,  nor  offset  by  pretended 
economic  or  domestic  advantage.  On  the  contrary,  there  is  joy 
in  the  hope  of  offspring,  for  "the  inheritance  of  the  Lord  are 
children;  and  His  reward,  the  fruit  of  the  womb"  (Ps.  CXXVI). 
The  bond  of  love  is  strengthened,  fresh  stimulus  is  given  to  thrift 
and  industrious  effort,  and  the  very  sacrifices  which  are  called 
for  become  sources  of  blessing. 

For  the  Christian  the  performance  of  these  duties  is  lightened 
by  the  fact  that  marriage  is  not  a  mere  contract:  it  is  a  sacra- 
ment and  therefore,  in  the  truest  sense,  a  holy  estate.  It  sancti- 
fies the  union  of  husband  and  wife,  and  supplies  them  with  graces 
that  enable  them  to  fulfil  their  obligations.  Hence  it  is  that  the 
Church  invests  the  celebration  of  marriage  with  a  solemnity  be- 
coming its  sacramental  importance,  performs  the  sacred  rite  at 
the  foot  of  the  Altar,  and  unites  it  in  the  Nuptial  Mass  with  the 
sublimest  of  religious  fifcictions. 

Originating  in  such  solemn  circumstances,  the  family  life  re- 
ceives, at  its  very  inception,  a  blessing  and  a  consecration.  The 
"sacredness  of  home"  has  a  definite  meaning,  deeper  than  its 
natural  privacy,  its  intimacy  and  inviolability :  the  home  is  sacred 
because  it  is  established  with  God's  benediction  to  carry  out  His 
purpose  in  regard  to  mankind. 

Public  authority  and  social  sanction  unite  to  safeguard  the 
home,  to  protect  its  rights  and  condemn  their  violation.     But 


Social  Relations  53 

its  strongest  defense  is  in  the  keeping  of  those  who  make  it,  in 
their  mutual  tideHty  and  careful  observance  of  their  respective 
duties.  These  alone  can  ward  off  temptation  and  forestall  the 
intrusion  from  without  of  influences  which,  through  treachery, 
bring  about  ruin. 

There  is  need  of  greater  vigilance  in  protecting  the  home  at 
this  time,  owing  to  conditions  which  tend  to  weaken  its  influence. 
The  demands  of  industry,  of  business  and  of  social  intercourse 
subject  the  family  tie  to  a  strain  that  becomes  more  severe  as 
civilization  advances.  Parents  who  are  sensible  of  their  obliga- 
tions, will  exert  themselves  to  meet  external  pressure  by  making 
the  home  more  attractive.  They  will  set  their  children  the  ex- 
ample of  giving  home  their  first  consideration.  And  while  they 
contribute  their  share  of  service  and  enjoyment  as  their  social 
position  requires,  they  will  not  neglect  their  children  for  the  sake 
of  amusement  or  pleasure. 

In  this  matter  we  appeal  with  special  earnestness  to  Catholic 
mothers,  whose  position  in  the  home  gives  them  constant  oppor- 
tunity to  realize  its  needs  and  provide  for  its  safety.  Let  them 
take  to  heart  the  words  of  Holy  Scripture  in  praise  of  the  virtuous 
woman :  "Strength  and  beauty  are  her  clothing.  .  .  .  She  hath 
opened  her  mouth  in  wisdom  and  the  law  of  clemency  is  on  her 
tongue.  She  hath  looked  well  to  the  paths  of  her  house  and  hath 
not  eaten  her  bread  in  idleness.  Her  children  rose  up  and  called 
her  blessed;  her  husband,  and  he  praised  her"  (Proverbs  XXXI, 
25-28).  The  home  that  is  ruled  by  such  a  woman  has  nothing 
to  fear  in  the  way  of  domestic  trouble. 

Divorce 

Of  itself  and  under  normal  conditions,  marital  love  endures 
through  Jife,  growing  in  strength  as  time  passes  and  renewing  its 
tenderness  in  the  children  that  are  its  pledges.  The  thought  of 
separation  even  by  death  is  repugnant,  and  nothing  less  than 
death  can  weaken  the  bond.  No  sane  man  or  woman  regards 
divorce  as  a  good  thing;  the  most  that  can  be  said  in  its  favor 
is  that,  under  given  circumstances,  it  affords  relief  from  intoler- 
able evil. 


54  Pastoral  Letter 

Reluctantly,  the  Church  permits  limited  divorce :  the  parties 
are  allowed  for  certain  cause  to  separate,  though  the  bond  con- 
tinues in  force  and  neither  may  contract  a  new  marriage  while 
the  other  is  living.  But  absolute  divorce  which  severs  the  bond, 
the  Church  does  not  and  will  not  permit. 

We  consider  the  growth  of  the  divorce  evil  an  evidence  of 
moral  decay  and  a  present  danger  to  the  best  elements  in  our 
American  life.  In  its  causes  and  their  revelation  by  process  of 
law,  in  its  results  for  those  who  are  immediately  concerned  and 
its  suggestion  to  the  minds  of  the  entire  community,  divorce  is 
our  national  scandal.  It  not  only  disrupts  the  home  of  the  sep- 
arated parties,  but  it  also  leads  others  who  are  not  yet  married, 
to  look  upon  the  bond  as  a  trivial  circumstance.  Thus,  through 
the  ease  and  frequency  with  which  it  is  granted,  divorce  increases 
with  an  evil  momentum  until  it  passes  the  limits  of  decency  and 
reduces  the  sexual  relation  to  the  level  of  animal  instinct. 

This  degradation  of  marriage,  once  considered  the  holiest  of 
human  relations,  naturally  tends  to  the  injury  of  other  things 
whose  efficacy  ought  to  be  secured,  not  by  coercion  but  by  the 
freely  given  rcgpect  of  a  free  people.  Public  authority,  indi- 
vidual rights  and  even  the  institutions  on  which  liberty  depends, 
must  inevitably  weaken.  Hence  the  importance  of  measures  and 
movements  which  aim  at  checking  the  spread  of  divorce.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  they  will  succeed ;  but  an  effectual  remedy  can- 
not be  found  or  applied,  unless  we  aim  at  purity  in  all  matters 
of  sex,  restore  the  dignity  of  marriage  and  emphasize  its  obliga- 
tions. 

Social  Intercourse 

By  divine  ordinance,  each  human  being  becomes  a  member  of 
the  larger  social  group,  and  in  due  course  enters  into  social  rela- 
tions. These  are,  and  should  be,  a  means  of  promoting  good  will 
and  an  occasion  for  the  practice  of  many  virtues,  notably  of 
justice  and  charity. 

That  social  enjoyment  is  quite  compatible  with  serious  occupa- 
tion and  with  devotion  to  the  public  good,  is  evident  from  the 
services  rendered  during  the  War  by  all  classes  of  people,  and 


Social  Relations  55 

especially  by  those  who  gave  up  their  comfort  and  ease  in 
obedience  to  the  call  of  their  country.  Let  this  same  spirit  pre- 
vail in  time  of  peace  and  set  reasonable  limits  to  the  pursuit  of 
pleasure.  With  the  tendency  to  excess  and  the  craving  for  excite- 
ment, there  comes  a  willingness  to  encourage  in  social  intercourse 
abuses  that  would  not  be  tolerated  in  the  privacy  of  home.  For 
the  sake  of  notoriety,  the  prescriptions  of  plain  decency  are  often 
set  aside,  and  even  the  slight  restraints  of  convention  are  disre- 
garded. Fondness  for  display  leads  to  lavish  expenditure,  which 
arouses  the  envy  of  the  less  fortunate  classes,  spurs  them  to  a 
foolish  imitation,  and  eventually  brings  about  conflict  between  the 
rich  and  the  poor. 

Though  many  of  these  abuses  are  of  short  duration,  their 
effect  is  none  the  less  harmful :  they  impair  the  moral  fiber  of  our 
people  and  render  them  unfit  for  liberty.  The  plainest  lessons  of 
history  show  that  absorption  in  pleasure  is  fatal  to  free  institu- 
tions. Nations  which  had  conquered  the  world  were  unable  to 
prevent  their  own  ruin,  once  corruption  had  sapped  their  vitality. 
Our  country  has  triumphed  in  its  struggle  beyond  the  sea ;  let  it 
beware  of  the  enemy  lurking  within. 

There  should  be  no  need  of  legal  enactments  to  improve  our 
social  relations,  and  there  will  be  none,  if  only  we  act  on  the 
principle  that  each  of  us  is  in  duty  bound  to  set  good  example. 
Society  no  less  than  its  individual  members,  is  subject  to  God's 
law.  Neither  convention  nor  fashion  can  justify  sin.  And  if  wc 
are  prompt  to  remove  the  causes  of  bodily  disease,  we  must  be 
just  as  energetic  in  banishing  moral  contagion. 

"Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth:  but  if  the  salt  lOse  its  savour, 
wherewith  shall  it  be  salted?"  (Matth.  V,  13).  Let  Catholics 
in  particular  reflect  on  this  saying,  and  keep  it  before  their  minds 
under  all  circumstances,  whether  at  home  or  abroad.  Each  in  his 
own  social  sphere  has  a  mission  to  perform,  sometimes  by  ex- 
plaining or  defending  the  faith,  sometimes  by  condemning  what 
is  wrong,  tut  always  by  doing  what  is  right.  It  is  the  eloquence 
of  deeds  that  convinces  where  words  are  of  no  avail.  The  light 
is  silent.    "So  let  your  light  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see 


56  Pastoral  I^etter 

your  good  works   and  glorify  your   Father   who   is   in  heaven" 
(Matth.  V,  16). 

Woman's  Influence 

In  society  as  in  the  home,  the  influence  of  woman  is  potent. 
She  rules  with  the  power  of  gentleness,  and,  where  men  are 
chivalrous,  her  will  is  the  social  law.  To  use  this  power  and 
fashion  this  law  in  such  wise  that  the  world  may  be  better  be- 
cause of  her  presence,  is  a  worthy  ambition.  But  it  will  not  be 
achieved  by  devices  that  arouse  the  coarser  instincts  and  gratify 

vanity  at  the  expense  of  decency.  There  will  be  less  ground  to 
complain  of  the  wrong  inflicted  on  women,  when  women  them- 
selves maintain  their  true  dignity.  "Favor  is  deceitful  and  beauty 
is  vain;  the  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised" 
(Proverbs  XXXI,  30). 

The  present  tendency  in  all  civilized  countries  is  to  give  woman 
a  larger  share  in  pursuits  and  occupations  that  formerly  were 
reserved  to  men.  The  sphere  of  her  activity  is  no  longer  confined 
to  the  home  or  to  her  social  environment ;  it  includes  the  learned 
professions,  the  field  of  industry  and  the  forum  of  political  life. 
Her  ability  to  meet  the  hardest  of  human  conditions  has  been 
tested  by  the  experience  of  war ;  and  the  world  pays  tribute,  right- 
fully, to  her  patriotic  spirit,  her  courage  and  her  power  of  re- 
storing what  the  havoc  of  war  had  well-nigh  destroyed. 

Those  same  qualities  are  now  to  undergo  a  dift'erent  sort  of 
trial ;  for  woman  by  engaging  in  public  afifairs,  accepts,  with  equal 
rights,  an  equal  responsibility.  So  far  as  she  may  purify  and 
elevate  our  political  life,  her  use  of  the  franchise  will  prove  an 
advantage;  and  this  will  be  greater  if  it  involve  no  loss  of  the 
qualities  in  which  woman  excels.  Such  a  loss  would  deprive  her 
of  the  influence  which  she  wields  in  the  home,  and  eventually 
defeat  the  very  purpose  for  which  s'he  has  entered  the  public 
arena.  The  evils  that  result  from  wrong  political  practice  must 
surely  arouse  apprehension,  but  what  we  have  chiefly  to  fear  is 
the  growth  of  division  that  tends  to  breed  hatred.  The  remedy 
for  this  lies  not  in  the  struggle  of  parties,  but  in  the  diffusion  of 


Industrial  Relations  57 

good  will.  To  reach  the  hearts  of  men  and  take  away  their 
bitterness,  that  they  may  live  henceforth  in  fellowship  one  with 
another — this  is  woman's  vocation  in  respect  of  public  affairs, 
and  the  service  which  she  by  nature  is  best  fitted  to  render. 

INDUSTRIAL  RELATIONS 

Jn  1891,  Pope  Leo  XIII  published  his  Encyclical  Rcniiii 
Novarum,  a  document  which  shows  the  insight  of  that  great 
Pontifif  into  the  industrial  conditions  of  the  time,  and  his  wisdom 
in  pointing  out  the  principles  needed  for  the  solving  of  economic 
problems.  "That  the  spirit  of  revolutionary  change  which  has 
long  been  disturbing  the  nations  of  the  world,  should  have  passed 
beyond  the  sphere  of  politics  and  made  its  influence  felt  in  the 
cognate  sphere  of  practical  economics,  is  not  surprising.  The  ele- 
ments of  the  conflict  now  raging  are  unmistakable,  in  the  vast  ex- 
pansion of  industrial  pursuits  and  the  marvelous  discoveries  of 
science ;  in  the  changed  relations  between  masters  and  workmen ; 
in  the  enormous  fortunes  of  some  few  individuals  and  the  utter 
poverty  of  the  masses;  in  th&  increased  self-reliance  and  closer 
mutual  combination  of  the  working  classes;  as  also,  finally,  in  the 
prevailing  moral  degeneracy.  The  momentous  gravity  of  the  state 
of  things  now  obtaining  fills  every  mind  with  painful  appre- 
hension; wise  men  are  discussing  it;  practical  men  are  proposing 
schemes ;  popular  meetings,  legislatures  and  rulers  of  nations  are 
all  busied  with  it — and  actually  there  is  no  question  that  has 
taken  a  deeper  hold  on  the  public  mind." 

How  fully  these  statements  apply  to  our  present  situation,  must 
be  clear  to  all  who  have  noted  the  course  of  events  during  the 
year  just  elapsed.  The  War  indeed  has  sharpened  the  issues  and 
intensified  the  conflict  that  rages  in  the  world  of  industry;  but 
the  elements,  the  parties  and  their  respective  attitudes  are  prac- 
tically unchanged.  Unchanged  also  are  the  principles  which  must 
be  applied,  if  order  is  to  be  restored  and  placed  on  such  a  perma- 
nent basis  that  our  people  may  continue  their  peaceful  pursuits 
without  dread  of  further  disturbance.  So  far  as  men  are  will- 
ing to  accept  those  principles  as  the  common  ground  on  which 


58  Pastoral  Letter 

all  parties  may  meet  and  adjust  their  several  claims,  there  is 
hope  of  a  settlement  without  the  more  radical  measures  which 
the  situation  seemed  but  lately  to  be  forcing  on  public  authority. 
But  in  any  event,  the  agitation  of  the  last  few  months  should  con- 
vince us  that  something  more  is  needed  than  temporary  arrange- 
ments or  local  readjustments.  The  atmosphere  must  be  cleared 
so  that,  however  great  the  difficulties  which  presently  block  the 
way,  men  of  good  will  may  not,  through  erroneous  preconcep- 
tions, go  stumbling  on  from  one  detail  to  another,  thus  adding 
confusion  to  darkness  of  counsel. 

Nature  of  the  Question 

"It  is  the  opinion  of  some,"  says  Pope  Leo  XIII,  "and  the 
error  is  already  very  common,  that  the  social  question  is  merely 
an  economic  one,  whereas  in  point  of  fact,  it  is  first  of  all  a  moral 
and  religious  matter,  and  for  that  reason  its  settlement  is  to  be 
sought  mainly  in  the  moral  law  and  the  pronouncements  of  re- 
ligion" (Apostolic  Letter,  Graves  de  communi,  January  18,  1901). 
These  words  are  as  pertinent  and  their  teaching  as  necessary 
today  as  they  were  nineteen  years  ago.  Their  meaning,  sub- 
stantially, has  been  reaffirmed  by  Pope  Benedict  XV  in  his 
recent  statement  that  "without  justice  and  charity  there  will  be 
no  social  progress."  The  fact  that  men  are  striving  for  what 
they  consider  to  be  their  rights,  puts  their  dispute  on  a  moral 
basis;  and  wherever  justice  may  lie,  whichever  of  the  opposing 
claims  may  have  the  better  foundation,  it  is  justice  that  all  de- 
mand. 

In  the  prosecution  of  their  respective  ciaims,  the  parties  have, 
apparently,  disregarded  the  fact  that  the  people  as  a  whole  have  a 
prior  claim.  The  great  number  of  unnecessary  strikes  which 
have  occurred  within  the  last  few  months,  is  evidence  that  justice 
has  been  widely  violated  as  regards  the  rights  and  needs  of  the 
public.  To  assume  that  the  only  rights  involved  in  an  industrial 
dispute  are  those  of  capital  and  labor,  is  a  radical  error.  It 
leads,  practically,  to  the  conclusion  that  at  any  time  and  for  an 
indefinite  period,  even  the  most  necessary  products  can  be  with- 


Industrial  Relations  59 

held  from  general  use  until  the  controversy  is  settled.  In  fact, 
while  it  lasts,  millions  of  persons  are  compelled  to  suffer  hard- 
ship for  want  of  goods  and  services  which  they  require  for 
reasonable  living.  The  first  step,  therefore,  toward  correcting 
the  evil  is  to  insist  that  the  rights  of  the  community  shall  prevail, 
and  that  no  individual  claim  conflicting  with  those  rights  shall 
be  valid. 

Among  those  rights  is  that  which  entitles  the  people  to  order 
and  tranquillity  as  the  necessary  condition  for  social  existence. 
Industrial  disturbance  invariably  spreads  beyond  the  sphere  in 
which  it  originates,  and  interferes,  more  or  less  seriously,  with 
other  occupations.  The  whole  economic  system  is  so  compacted 
together  and  its  parts  are  so  dependent  one  upon  the  other,  that 
the  failure  of  a  single  element,  especially  if  this  be  of  vital  im- 
portance, must  affect  all  the  rest.  The  disorder  which  ensues 
is  an  injustice  inflicted  upon  the  community;  and  the  wrong  is 
the  greater  because,  usually,  there  is  no  redress.  Those  who  are 
responsible  for  it  pursue  their  own  ends  without  regard  for  moral 
consequences  and,  in  some  cases,  with  no  concern  for  the  pro- 
visions of  law.  When  such  a  temper  asserts  itself,  indignation 
is  aroused  throughout  the  country  and  the  authorities  are  urged 
to  take  action.  This,  under  given  circumstances,  may  be  the  only 
possible  course ;  but,  as  experience  shows,  it  does  not  eradicate  the 
evil.  A  further  diagnosis  is  needed.  The  causes  of  industrial 
trouble  are  generally  known,  as  are  also  the  various  phases 
through  which  it  develops  and  the  positions  which  the  several 
parties  assume.  The  more  serious  problem  is  to  ascertain  why, 
in  such  conditions,  men  fail  to  see  their  obligations  to  one  another 
and  to  the  public,  or  seeing  them,  refuse  to  fulfil  them  except 
under  threat  and  compulsion. 

Mutual  Obligations 

"The  great  mistake  in  regard  to  the  matter  now  under  con- 
sideration is  to  take  up  with  the  notion  that  class  is  naturally 
hostile  to  class,  and  that  the  wealthy  and  the  workingmen  are 
intended  by  nature  to  live  in  mutual  conflict"  {Rerum  Novarum). 


60  Pastoral  Letter 

On  the  contrary,  as  Pope  Leo  adds,  "each  needs  the  other :  Capital 
cannot  do  without  Labor,  nor  Labor  without  Capital.  Religion 
is  a  powerful  agency  in  drawing  the  rich  and  the  bread-winner 
together,  by  reminding  each  class  of  its  duties  to  the  other  and 
especially  of  the  obligation  of  justice.  Religion  teaches  the  labor- 
ing man  and  the  artisan  to  carry  out  honestly  and  fairly  all 
equitable  agreements  freely  arranged,  to  refrain  from  injuring 
person  or  property,  from  using  violence  and  creating  disorder. 
It  teaches  the  owner  and  employer  that  the  laborer  is  not  their 
bondsman,  that  in  every  man  they  must  respect  his  dignity  and 
worth  as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian;  that  labor  is  not  a  thing  to 
be  ashamed  of,  if  we  listen  to  right  reason  and  to  Christian 
philosophy,  but  is  an  honorable  calling,  enabling  a  man  to  sustain 
his  life  in  a  way  upright  and  creditable;  and  that  it  is  shameful 
and  inhuman  to  treat  men  like  chattels,  as  means  for  making 
money,  or  as  machines  for  grinding  out  work."  The  moral  value 
of  man  and  the  dignity  of  human  labor  are  cardinal  points  in  this 
whole  question.  Let  them  be  the  directive  principles  in  industry, 
and  they  will  go  far  toward  preventing  disputes.  By  treating 
the  laborer  first  of  all  as  a  man,  the  employer  will  make  him  a 
better  workingman;  by  respecting  his  own  moral  dignity  as  a 
man,  the  laborer  will  compel  the  respect  of  his  employer  and  of 
the  community. 

The  settlement  of  our  industrial  problems  would  offer  less 
difficulty  if,  while  upholding  its  rights,  each  party  were  disposed 
to  meet  the  other  in  a  friendly  spirit.  The  strict  requirements 
of  justice  can  be  fulfilled  without  creating  animosity;  in  fact, 
where  this  arises,  it  is  apt  to  obscure  the  whole  issue.  On  the 
contrary,  a  manifest  desire  to  win  over,  rather  than  (Irive,  the 
opponent  to  the  acceptance  of  equitable  terms,  would  facilitate 
the  recognition  of  claims  which  are  founded  in  justice.  The 
evidence  of  such  a  disposition  would  break  down  the  barriers 
of  mistrust  and  set  up  in  their  stead  the  bond  of  good  will.  Not 
an  armistice  but  a  conciliation  would  result ;  and  this  would  es- 
tablish all  parties  in  the  exercise  of  their  rights  an(l  the  cheerful 
performance  of  their  duties. 


Industriai-  Rklations  61 

Respect  I  \'K  Richts 

The  right  of  labor  to  organize,  and  the  great  benefit  to  be 
derived  from  workingmen's  associations,  was  plainly  set  forth 
by  Pope  Leo  XIII.  In  this  connection,  we  would  call  attention 
to  two  rights,  one  of  employes  and  the  other  of  employers,  the 
violation  of  which  contributes  largely  to  the  existing  unrest  and 
suffering.  The  first  is  the  right  of  the  workers  to  form  and 
maintain  the  kind  of  organization  that  is  necessary  and  that  will 
be  most  effectual  in  securing  their  welfare.  The  second  is  the 
light  of  employers  to  the  faithful  observance  by  the  labor  unions 
of  all  contracts  and  agreements.  The  unreasonableness  of  deny- 
ing either  of  these  rights  is  too  obvious  to  require  proof  or  ex- 
planation. 

A  dispute  that  cannot  be  adjusted  by  direct  negotiation  be- 
tween the  parties  concerned,  should  always  be  submitted  to  arbi- 
tration. Neither  employer  nor  employe  may  reasonably  reject 
this  method  on  the  ground  that  it  does  not  bring  about  perfect 
justice.  Xo  human  institution  is  perfect  or  infallible;  even  our 
courts  of  law  are  .sometimes  in  error.  Like  the  law  com-t,  the 
tribunal  of  industrial  arbitration  provides  the  nearest  ai)proach 
to  justice  that  is  practically  attainable;  for  the  only  alternative 
is  economic  force,  and  its  decisions  have  no  necessary  relation 
to  the  decrees  of  justice.  They  show  which  party  is  economically 
stronger,  not  which  is  in  the  right. 

The  right  of  labor  to  a  living  wage,  authoritatively  and  elo- 
quently reasserted  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  by 
Pope  Leo  XIII,  is  happily  no  longer  denied  by  any  considerable 
number  of  persons.  What  is  principally  needed  now  is  that  its 
content  should  be  adequately  defined,  and  that  it  should  be  made 
universal  in  practice,  through  whatever  means  will  be  at  once 
legitimate  and  effective.  In  particular,  it  is  to  be  kept  in  mind 
that  a  living  wage  includes  not  merely  decent  maintenance  for 
the  present,  but  also  a  reasonable  provision  for  such  future  needs 
as  sickness,  invalidity  and  old  age.  Capital  likewise  has  its  rights. 
Among  them  is  the  right  to  "a  fair  day's  work  for  a  fair  day's 
])ay,"  and  the  right  to  returns  which  will  be  sufficient  to  stimulate 


62  Pastoral  Letter 

thrift,   saving,  initiative,  enterprise,  and  all  those  directive  and 
productive  energies  which  promote  social  welfare. 

Benefits  of  Association 

In  his  pronouncement  on  Labor  (Rerum  Novarum)  Pope 
Leo  XIII  describes  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  both  employer 
and  employe  from  "associations  and  organizations  which  draw 
the  two  classes  more  closely  together."  Such  associations  are 
especially  needed  at  the  present  time.  While  the  labor  union  or 
trade  union  has  been,  and  still  is,  necessary  in  the  struggle  of  the 
workers  for  fair  wages  and  fair  conditions  of  employment,  we 
have  to  recognize  that  its  history,  methods  and  objects  have  made 
it  essentially  a  militant  organization.  The  time  seems  now  to 
have  arrived  when  it  should  be,  not  supplanted,  but  supplemented 
by  associations  or  conferences,  composed  jointly  of  employers  and 
employes,  which  will  place  emphasis  upon  the  common  interests 
rather  than  the  divergent  aims  of  the  two  parties,  upon  coopera- 
tion rather  than  conflict.  Through  such  arrangements,  all  classes 
would  be  greatly  benefitted.  The  worker  would  participate  in 
those  matters  of  industrial  management  which  directly  concern 
him  and  about  which  he  possesses  helpful  knowledge;  he  would 
acquire  an  increased  sense  of  personal  dignity  and  personal  re- 
sponsibility, take  greater  interest  and  pride  in  his  work,  and 
become  more  efficient  and  more  contented.  The  employer  would 
have  the  benefit  of  willing  cooperation  from,  and  harmonious 
relations  with,  his  employes.  The  consumer,  in  common  with 
employer  and  employe,  would  share  in  the  advantages  of  larger 
and  steadier  production.  In  a  word,  industry  would  be  carried 
on  as  a  cooperative  enterprise  for  the  common  good,  and  not  as 
a  contest  between  two  parties  for  a  restricted  product. 

Deploring  the  social  changes  which  have  divided  "society  into 
two  widely  diflferent  castes,"  of  which  one  "holds  power  because 
it  holds  wealth,"  while  the  other  is  "the  needy  and  powerless 
multitude,"  Pope  Leo  XIII  declared  that  the  remedy  is  "to  induce 
as  many  as  possible  of  the  humbler  classes  to  become  owners" 
(Rerum  Novarum).     This  recommendation  is  in  exact  accord 


National  Conditions  63 

with  the  traditional  teaching  and  practice  of  the  Church.  \\^hen 
her  social  influence  was  greatest,  in  the  later  Middle  Ages,  the 
prevailing  economic  system  was  such  that  the  workers  were 
gradually  obtaining  a  larger  share  in  the  ownership  of  the  lands 
upon  which,  and  the  tools  with  which,  they  labored.  Though  the 
economic  arrangements  of  that  time  cannot  be  restored,  the 
underlying  principle  is  of  permanent  application,  and  is  the  only 
one  that  will  give  stability  to  industrial  society.  It  should  be 
applied  to  our  present  system  as  rapidly  as  condiitions  will  permit. 

Whatever  may  be  the  industrial  and  social  remedies  which  will 
approve  themselves  to  the  American  people,  there  is  one  that, 
we  feel  confident,  they  will  never  adopt.  That  is  the  method  of 
revolution.  For  it  there  is  neither  justification  nor  excuse  under 
our  form  of  government.  Through  the  ordinary  and  orderly 
processes  of  education,  organization  and  legislation,  all  social 
wrongs  can  be  righted.  While  these  processes  may  at  times  seem 
distressingly  slow,  they  will  achieve  more  in  the  final  result  than 
violence  or  revolution.  The  radicalism,  and  worse  than  radical- 
ism, of  the  labor  movement  in  some  of  the  countries  of  Europe, 
has  no  lesson  for  the  workers  of  the  United  States,  except  as 
an  example  of  methods  to  be  detested  and  avoided. 

Pope  Benedict  has  recently  expressed  a  desire  that  the  people 
should  study  the  great  encyclicals  on  the  social  question  of  his 
predecessor,  Leo  XIII.  We  heartily  commend  this  advice  to  the 
faithful  and,  indeed,  to  all  the  people  of  the  United  States.  They 
will  find  in  these  documents  the  practical  wisdom  which  the 
experience  of  centuries  has  stored  up  in  the  Holy  See  and,  more- 
over, that  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  mankind  which  fitly  char- 
acterizes the  Head  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

NATIONAL  CONDITIONS 

Our  country  had  its  origin  in  a  struggle  for  liberty.  Once 
established  as  an  independent  Republic,  it  became  the  refuge  of 
those  who  preferred  freedom  in  America  to  the  conditions  pre- 
vailing in  their  native  lands.  Differing  widely  in  culture,  belief 
and  capacity  for  self-government,  they  had  as  their  common  char- 


64  Pastoral  Letter 

acteristics-the  desire  for  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 
Within  a  century,  those  diverse  elements  had  been  formed  to- 
gether into  a  nation,  powerful,  prosperous  and  contented.  As 
they  advanced  in  fortune,  they  broadened  in  generosity;  and  to^ 
day,  the  children  of  those  early  refugees  are  restoring  the  breath 
of  life  to  the  peoples  of  Europe. 

These  facts  naturally  inspire  us  with  an  honest  pride  in  our 
country,  with  loyalty  to  our  free  institutions  and  confidence  in 
our  future.  They  should  also  inspire  us  with  gratitude  to  the 
Giver  of  all  good  gifts,  who  has  dealt  so  favorably  with  our 
nation :  "He  hath  not  done  in  like  manner  to  every  nation" 
(Ps.  CXLVII).  Our  forefathers  realized  this,  and  accordingly 
there  is  evident  in  the  foundation  of  the  Republic  and  its  first 
institutions,  a  deep  religious  spirit.  It  pervades  the  home,  estab- 
lishes seats  of  learning,  guides  the  deliberation  of  law-making 
bodies.  Its  beneficent  results  are  our  inheritance;  but  to  enjoy 
this  and  transmit  it  in  its  fulness  to  posterity,  we  must  preserve 
in  the  hearts  of  the  people  the  spirit  of  reverence  for  Go.l  aivl 
His  law,  which  animated  the  founders  of  our  nation.  \\'itlK>ut 
that  spirit,  there  is  no  true  patriotism;  for  whoever  sincerely 
loves  his  country,  must  love  it  for  the  things  that  make  it  worthy 
of  the  blessings  it  has  received  and  of  those  for  which  it  may 
hope  through  God's  dispensation. 

We  are  convinced  that  our  Catholic  people  and  all  our  citizens 
will  display  an  equally  patriotic  spirit  in  approaching  the  tasks 
which  now  confront  us.  The  tasks  of  peace,  though  less  spec- 
tacular in  their  accomplishment  than  those  of  war,  are  not  less 
important  and  surely  not  less  difficult.  They  call  for  wise  de- 
liberation, for  self-restraint,  for  promptness  in  emergency  and 
energy  in  action.  They  demand,  especially,  that  our  people  should 
rise  above  all  minor  considerations  and  unite  their  endeavors  for 
the  good  of  the  country.  At  no  period  in  our  history,  not  even 
at  the  outbreak  of  war,  has  the  need  of  unity  been  more  impera- 
tive. There  should  be  neither  time  nor  place  for  sectional  di- 
vision, for  racial  hatred,  for  strife  among  classes,  for  purely 
partisan  conflict  imperilling  the  country's  welfare.    There  should 


National  Conditions  65 

be  no  toleration  for  movements,  agencies  or  schemes  that  aim  at 
fomenting  discord  on  the  ground  of  reUgious  beHef.  All  such 
attempts,  whatever  their  disguise  or  pretext,  are  inimical  to  the 
life  of  our  nation.  Their  ultimate  purpose  is  to  bring  discredit 
upon  religion,  and  to  eliminate  its  influence  as  a  factor  in  shaping 
the  thought  or  the  conduct  of  our  people.  Wq  believe  that  in- 
telligent Americans  will  understand  how  foreign  to  our  ideas 
-of  ireedom  and  how  dangerous  to  freedom  itself,  are  those  de- 
signs which  would  not  only  invade  the  rights  of  conscience  but 
would  make  the  breeding  of  hatred  a  conscientious  duty. 

Care  for  Immigrants 

Such  movements  are  the  more  deplorable  because  they  divert 
attention  from  matters  of  public  import  that  really  call  for  im- 
provement, and  from  problems  wdiose  solution  requires  the  earnest 
cooperation  of  all  our  citizens.  There  is  much  to  be  done  in  be- 
half of  those  who,  like  our  forefathers,  come  from  other  coun- 
tries to  find  a  home  in  America.  They  need  an  education  that 
will  enable  them  to  understand  our  system  of  government  and 
will  prepare  them  for.  the  duties  of  citizenship.  They  need  warn- 
ing against  the  contagion  of  influences  whose  evil  results  are 
giving  us  grave  concern.  But  what  they  chiefly  need  is  that 
Christian  sympathy  which  considers  in  them  the  possibilities  for 
good  rather  than  tlie  present  defects,  and,  instead  of  looking  upon 
them  with  distrust,  extends  them  the  hand  of  charity.  Since 
many  of  their  failings  are  the  consequence  of  treatment  from 
which  they  sufl"ered  in  their  homelands,  our  attitude  and  action 
toward  them  should,  for  that  reason,  be  all  the  more  sympathetic 
and  helpful. 

Clean  Politics 

The  constant  addition  of  new  elements  to  our  population  obliges 
us  to  greater  vigilance  with  regard  to  our  internal  affairs.  The 
power  of  assimilation  is  proportioned  to  the  soundness  of  the 
organism;  and  as  the  most  wholesome  nutriment  may  prove  in- 
jurious in  case  of   functional  disorder,  so  will  the   influx   from 


66  Pastoral  Letter 

other  countries  be  harmful  to  our  national  life,  unless  this  be 
maintained  in  full  vigor.  While,  then,  we  are  solicitous  that 
those  who  seek  American  citizenship  should  possess  or  speedily 
attain  the  necessary  qualifications,  it  behooves  us  to  see  that  our 
political  system  is  healthy.  In  its  primary  meaning,  politics  has 
for  its  aim  the  administration  of  government  in  accordance  with 
the  express  will  of  the  people  and  for  their  best  interests.  This 
can  be  accomplished  by  the  adoption  of  right  principles,  the  choice 
of  worthy  candidates  for  office,  the  direction  of  partisan  effort 
toward  the  nation's  true  welfare  and  the  purity  of  election;  but 
not  by  dishonesty.  The  idea  that  politics  is  exempt  from  the 
requirements  of  morality,  is  both  false  and  pernicious :  it  is  prac- 
tically equivalent  to  the  notion  that  in  government  there  is  neither 
right  nor  wrong,  and  that  the  will  of  the  people  is  simply  an 
instrument  to  be  used  for  private  advantage. 

The  expression  or  application  of  such  views  accounts  for  the 
tendency,  on  the  part  of  many  of  our  citizens,  to  hold  aloof  from 
politics.  But  their  abstention  will  not  effect  the  needed  reform, 
nor  will  it  arouse  from  their  apathy  the  still  larger  number  who 
are  so  intent  upon  their  own  pursuits  that  they  have  no  inclina- 
tion for  political  duties.  Each  citizen  should  devote  a  reasonable 
amount  of  time  and  energy  to  the  maintenance  of  right  govern- 
ment by  the  exercise  of  his  political  rights  and  privileges.  He 
should  understand  the  issues  that  are  brought  before  the  people, 
and  cooperate  with  his  fellow-citizens  in  securing,  by  all  legitimate 
means,  the  wisest  possible  solution. 

Public  Office  and  Legislation 

In  a  special  degree,  the  sense  and  performance  of  duty  is  re- 
quired of  those  who  are  entrusted  with  public  office.  They  are 
at  once  the  servants  of  the  people  and  the  bearers  of  an  author- 
ity whose  original  source  is  none  other  than  God.  Integrity  on 
their  part,  shown  by  their  impartial  treatment  of  all  persons  and 
questions,  by  their  righteous  administration  of  public  funds  and 
by  their  strict  observance  of  law,  is  a  vital  element  in  the  life  of 
the  nation.    It  is  the  first  and  most  effectual  remedy  for  the  count- 


National  Conditions  67 

less  ills  which  invade  the  body  politic  and,  slowly  festering,  end 
in  sudden  collapse.  But  to  apply  the  remedy  with  hope  of  suc- 
cess, those  who  are  charged  with  the  care  of  public  affairs,  should 
think  less  of  the  honor  conferred  upon  them  than  of  the  great 
responsibility.  For  the  public  official  above  all  others,  there  is 
need  to  remember  the  day  of  accounting,  here,  perhaps,  at  the 
bar  of  human  opinion,  but  surely  hereafter  at  the  judgment  seat 
of  Him  whose  sentence  is  absolute:  "Give  an  account  of  thy 
stewardship"  (Luke  XVI,  2). 

The  conduct  of  one's  own  life  is  a  serious  and  often  a  difficult 
task.  But  to  establish,  by  the  use  of  authority,  the  order  of 
living  for  the  whole  people,  is  a  function  that  demands  the  clear- 
est perception  of  right  and  the  utmost  fidelity  to  the  principles 
^f  justice.  If  the  good  of  the  country  is  the  one  real  object  of  all 
political  power,  this  is  pre-eminently  true  of  the  legislative  power. 
Since  law,  as  the  means  of  protecting  right  and  preserving  order, 
is  essential  to  the  life  of  the  State,  justice  must  inspire  legislation, 
and  concern  for  the  public  weal  must  furnish  the  single  motive 
for  enactment.  The  passing  of  an  unjust  law  is  the  suicide  of 
authority. 

The  efficacy  of  legislation  depends  on  the  wisdom  of  laws, 
not  on  their  number.  Fewer  enactments,  with  more  prudent 
consideration  of  each  and  more  vigorous  execution  of  all,  would 
go  far  towards  bettering  our  national  conditions.  But  when 
justice  itself  is  buried  under  a  multiplicity  of  statutes,  it  is  not 
surprising  that  the  people  grow  slack  in  observance  and  eventually 
cease  to  respect  the  authority  back  of  the  laws.  Their  tendency 
then  is  to  assume  the  function  which  rightly  belongs  to  public 
executive  power,  and  this  they  are  more  likely  to  do  when  aroused 
by  the  commission  of  crimes  which,  in  their  opinion,  demand  swift 
retribution  instead  of  the  slow  and  uncertain  results  of  legal 
procedure.  The  summary  punishment  visited  on  certain  offences 
by  those  who  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  may  seem  to 
be  what  the  criminal  deserves;  in  reality,  it  is  a  usurpation  of 
power  and  therefore  an  attack  upon  the  vital  principle  of  public 
order.    The  tardiness  of  justice  is  surely  an  evil,  but  it  will  not 


68  Pastoral  Letter 

be  removed  by  added  violations  of  justice,  in  which  passion  too 
often  prevails  and  leads  to  practices  unworthy  of  a  civilized 
nation. 

The  Press 

For  the  removal  of  evil  and  the  furtherance  of  good  in  the 
social  and  political  spheres,  an  enlightened  public  opinion  is 
requisite.  The  verdict  rendered  by  the  people  must  express  their 
own  judgment,  but  this  cannot  be  safely  formed  without  a  knowl- 
edge of  facts  and  an  appreciation  of  the  questions  on  which  they 
have  to  decide.  As  the  needed  information  ordinarily  is  supplied 
by  the  Press,  it  is  at  once  obvious  that  the  publicist  has  a  large 
measure  both  of  influence  and  of  responsibility.  He  speaks  to 
the  whole  public,  and  often  with  an  authority  that  carries  con- 
viction. In  a  very  real  sense  he  is  a  teacher,  with  the  largest 
opportunity  to  instruct,  to  criticize,  to  fashion  opinions  and  to 
direct  movements.  When  the  use  of  this  great  power  is  guided 
by  loyalty  to  truth,  to  moral  principle  and  patriotic  duty,  the 
Press  is  an  agency  for  good  second  only  to  public  authority. 
\VTien  through  its  influence  and  example,  the  people  are  led  to 
respect  law,  to  observe  the  precept  of  charity,  to  detest  scandal 
and  condemn  wrong-doing,  they  may  well  regard  the  Press  as  a 
safeguard  of  their  homes  and  a  source  of  purity  in  their  social 
and  political  relations.  From  it  they  will  learn  whatsoever  things 
are  just  and  pure,  whatsoever  are  lovely  and  of  good  report.  But 
no  man  has  a  right  to  scatter  germs  of  moral  corruption  any 
more  than  he  has  to  pollute  the  water  supply  of  a  city.  The 
Press  which  condemns  the  one  as  a  criminal  deed,  cannot  lend 
countenance,  much  less  cooperation,  to  the  other. 

INTERNATIONAL  RELATIONS 

Though  men  are  divided  into  various  nationalities  by  reason 
of  geographical  position  or  historical  vicissitude,  the  progress  of 
civilization  facilitates  intercourse  and,  normally,  brings  about  the 
exchange  of  good  offices  between  people  and  people.  War,  for 
a  time,  suspends  these  friendly  relations;  but  eventually  it  serves 


International  Relations  69 

to  focus  attention  upon  them  and  ti>  emphasize  the  need  of  read- 
justment. Having  shared  in  the  recent  conflict,  our  country  is 
now  engaged  with  international  problems  and  with  the  solution 
of  these  on  a  sound  and  permanent  basis.  Such  a  solution,  how- 
ever, can  be  reached  only  tlirough  the  acceptance  and  application 
of  nK)ral  j^rinciples.  Without  these,  no  form  of  agreement  will 
avail  to  establish  and  maintain  the  order  of  the  world. 

Since  God  is  the  Ruler  of  nations  no  less  than  of  individuals, 
His  law  is  supreme  over  the  external  relations  of  states  as  well 
as  in  the  internal  affairs  of  each.  The  sovereignty  that  makes  a 
nation  independent  of  other  nations,  does  not  exempt  it  from  its 
obligations  toward  Cod ;  nor  can  any  covenant,  however  shrewdly 
arranged,  guarantee  peace  -and  security,  if  it  disregard  the  divine 
commands.  These  require  that  in  their  dealings  with  one  another, 
nations  shall  observe  both  justice  and  charity.  By  the  former, 
each  nation  is  bound  to  respect  lihe  existence,  integrity  and  rights 
of  all  other  nations;  by  the  latter,  it  is  obliged  to  assist  other 
nations  with  those  acts  of  beneficence  and  good  will  which  can 
be  performed  without  undue  inconvenience  to  itself.  From  these 
obligations  a  nation  is  not  dispensed  "by  reason  of  its  superior 
civilization,  its  industrial  activity  or  "its  commercial  enterprise ; 
least  of  all,  by  its  military  power.  On  the  contrary,  a  state  which 
possesses  these  advantages,  is  under  a  greater  responsibility  to 
exert  its  influence  for  the  maintenance  of  justice  and  the  diffusion 
of  good  will  among  all  peoples.  So  far  as  it  fulfils  its  obligation 
in  -this  respect,  a  state  contributes  its  share  to  the  peace  of  the 
worltl :  it  disarms  jealousy,  removes  all  ground  for  suspicion  and 
replaces  intrigue  with  frank  cooperation  for  the  general  welfare. 

The  growth  of  democracy  implies  that  the  peojile  shall  have  a 
larger  share  in  determining  the  form,  attributions  and  policies  of 
the  government  to  which  they  look  for  the  preservation  of  order. 
It  should  also  imply  that  the  calm  deliberate  judgment  of  the 
people,  rather  than  the  aims  of  the  ambitious  few,  shall  decide 
whether,  in  case  of  international  disagreement,  war  be  the  only 
solution.  Knowing  that  the  burdens  of  war  will  fall  most  heavily 
on  them,  the  people  will  be  slower  in  taking  aggressive  measures, 


70  Pastoral  Letter 

and,  with  an  adequate  sense  of  what  charity  and  justice  require, 
they  will  refuse  to  be  led  or  driven  into  conflict  by  false  report 
or  specious  argument.  Reluctance  of  this  sort  is  entirely  con- 
sistent with  firmness  for  right  and  zeal  for  national  honor.  If  it 
were  developed  in  every  people,  it  would  prove  a  more  effectual 
restraint  than  any  craft  of  diplomacy  or  economic  prudence.  The 
wisest  economy,  in  fact,  would  be  exercised  by  making  the  prin- 
ciples of  charity  and  justice  an  essential  part  of  education.  In- 
stead of  planning  destruction,  intelligence  would  then  discover 
new  methods  of  binding  the  nations  together ;  and  the  good  will 
which  is  now  doing  so  much  to  relieve  the  distress  produced  by 
war,  would  be  so  strengthened  and  directed  as  to  prevent  the 
recurrence  of  international  strife. 

One  of  the  most  effectual  means  by  which  states  can  assist 
one  another,  is  the  organization  of  international  peace.  The  need 
of  this  is  more  generally  felt  at  the  present  time  when  the  mean- 
ing of  war  is  so  plainly  before  us.  In  former  ages  also,  the 
nations  realized  the  necessity  of  compacts  and  agreements  where- 
by the  peace  of  the  world  would  be  secured.  The  success  of 
these  organized  efforts  was  due,  in  large  measure,  to  the  influence 
of  the  Church.  The  position  of  the  Holy  See  and  the  office  of 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff  as  Father  of  Christendom,  were  recog- 
nized by  the  nations  as  powerful  factors  in  any  undertaking  that 
had  for  its  object  the  welfare  of  all.  A  "Truce  of  God"  was  not 
to  be  thought  of  without  the  Vicar  of  Christ;  and  no  other  truce 
could  be  of  lasting  effect.  The  Popes  have  been  the  chief  ex- 
ponents, both  by  word  and  act,  of  the  principles  which  must 
underlie  any  successful  agreement  of  this  nature.  Again  and 
again  they  have  united  the  nations  of  Europe,  and  history  records 
the  great  services  which  they  rendered  in  the  field  of  interna- 
tional arbitration  and  in  the  development  of  international  law. 

The  imbroken  tradition  of  the  Papacy  with  respect  to  interna- 
tional peace,  has  been  wortliily  continued  to  the  present  by  Pope 
Benedict  XV.  He  not  only  made  all  possible  efforts  to  bring  the 
recent  war  to  an  end,  but  was  also  one  of  the  first  advocates 
of  an  organization  for  the  preservation  of  peace.     In  his  Letter 


Education  71 

to  the  American  people  on  the  last  day  of  the  year,  1918,  the 
Holy  Father  expressed  his  fervent  hope  and  desire  for  an  inter- 
national organization,  "which  by  abolishing  conscription  will  re- 
duce armaments,  by  establishing  international  tribunals  will  elimi- 
nate or  settle  disputes,  and  by  placing  peace  on  a  solid  founda- 
tion will  guarantee  to  all  independence  and  equality  of  rights." 
These  words  reveal  the  heart  of  the  Father  whose  children  are 
found  in  eveiy  nation,  and  who  grieves  at  the  sight  of  their  fratri- 
cidal struggle.  That  they  were  not  then  heeded  or  even  rightly 
understood,  is  but  another  evidence  of  the  degree  to  which  the 
passions  aroused  by  the  conflict  had  warped  the  judgment  of 
men.  But  this  did  not  prevent  the  Pontiff  from  intervening  in 
behalf  of  those  who  were  stricken  by  the  fortunes  of  war,  nor 
did  it  lessen  his  determination  to  bring  about  peace.  To  him 
and  to  his  humane  endeavor,  not  Catholics  alone,  but  people  of 
all  creeds  and  nationalities,  are  indebted  for  the  example  of 
magnanimity  which  he  gave  the  whole  world  during  the  most 
fateful  years  of  its  history. 

EDUCATION 

The  interests  of  order  and  peace  require  that  our  domestic, 
social  and  national  relations  be  established  on  the  solid  basis  of 
principle.  For  the  attainment  of  this  end,  much  can  be  done  by 
wise  legislation  and  by  organized  effort  on  the  part  of  associa- 
tions. We  are  confident  that  such  effort  and  enactment  will 
hasten  the  desired  result.  With  their  practical  sense  and  their 
love  of  fairness,  the  American  people  understand  that  our  na- 
tional life  cannot  develop  normally  without  adequate  protection 
for  the  rights  of  all  and  faithful  performance  of  duty  by  every 
citizen.  And  as  they  united  to  secure  freedom  for  other  nations, 
they  now  will  strive  together  to  realize  their  country's  ideals. 

Once  more,  however,  we  must  emphasize  the  need  of  laying 
a  sure  foundation  in  the  individual  mind  and  conscience.  Upon 
the  integrity  of  each,  upon  his  personal  observance  of  justice  and 
charity,  depends  the  efficacy  of  legislation  and  of  all  endeavor  for 
the  common  good.    Our  aim,  therefore,  should  be,  not  to  multi- 


72  Pastoral  Letter 

ply  laws  and  restrictions,  but  to  develop  such  a  spirit  as  will 
enable  us  to  live  in  harmony  under  the  simplest  possible  form, 
and  only  the  necessary  amount,  of  external  regulation.  Democ- 
racy, understood  as  self-government,'  implies  that  the  people  as 
a  whole  shall  rule  themselves.  But  if  they  are  to  rule  wisely, 
each  must  begin  by  governing  himself,  by  performing  his  duty 
no  less  than  by  maintaining  his  right. 

Need  of  Sound  Education 

Inasmuch  as  permanent  peace  on  a  sound  basis  is  the  desire  of 
all  our  people,  it  is  necessary  to  provide  for  the  future  by  shaping 
the  thought  and  guiding  the  purpose  of  our  children  and  youth 
toward  a  complete  understanding  and  discharge  of  their  duties. 
Herein  lies  the  importance  of  education  and  the  responsibility  of 
those  to  whom  it  is  entrusted.  Serious  at,  all  times,  the  educa- 
tional problem  is  now  graver  and  more  complex  by  reason  of  the 
manifold  demands  that  are  made  on  the  school,  the  changes  in 
our  industrial  conditions,  and  above  all,  by  reason  of  the  con- 
fusion and  error  which  obscure  the  purpose  of  life  and  therefore 
of  true  education. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  mainly  through  education  that  our  country 
will  accomplish  its  task  and  perpetuate  its  free  institutions.  Such 
is  the  conviction  that  inspires  much  of  the  activity  displayed  in 
this  field,  whether  by  individuals  or  by  organizations.  Their 
confidence  is  naturally  strengthened  by  the  interest  which  is  taken 
in  the  school,  the  enlarged  facilities  for  instruction  and  the  in- 
creased efficiency  of  educational  work. 

But  these  again  are  so  many  reasons  for  insisting  that  educa- 
tion shall  move  in  the  right  direction.  The  more  thorough  it 
becomes,  the  greater  is  its  power  either  for  good  or  for  evil.  A 
trained  intelligence  is  but  a  highly  tempered  instrument,  whose 
use  must  depend  on  the  character  of  its  possessor.  Of  itself 
knowledge  gives  no  guarantee  that  it  will  issue  in  righteous  action, 
and  much  less  that  it  will  redound  to  the  benefit  of  society.  As 
experience  too  plainly  shows,  culture  of  the  highest  order,  with 
abundance  of  knowledge  at  its  command,  may  be  employed  for 


Education  73 

criminal  ends  and  be  turned  to  the  ruin  of  the  very  institutions 
which  gave  it  support  and  protection.  While,  therefore,  it  is  use- 
ful to  improve  education  by  organizing  the  w^ork  of  the  schools, 
enriching  the  content  of  knowledge  and  refining  the  methods  of 
teaching,  it  is  still  more  necessary  to  insure  that  all  educational 
activity  shall  be  guided  by  sound  principles  toward  the  attainment 
of  its  true  purpose. 

Principles  of  Catholic  Education 
The  Church  in  our  country  is  obliged,  for  the  sake  of  principle, 
to  maintain  a  system  of  education  distinct  and  separate  from  other 
systems.  It  is  supported  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  Catho- 
lics who,  at  the  same  time,  contribute  as  required  by  law  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  public  schools.  It  engages  in  the  service  of 
education  a  body  of  teachers  who  consecrate  their  lives  to  this 
high  calling;  and  it  prepares,  without  expense  to  the  State,  a  con- 
siderable number  of  Americans  to  live  worthily  as  citizens  of  the 
Republic. 

Our  system  is  based  on  certain  convictions  that  grow  stronger 
as  we  observe  the  testing  of  all  education,  not  simply  by  calm 
theoretic  discussion,  but  by  the  crucial  experience  of  recent  events. 
It  should  not  have  required  the  pitiless  searching  of  w^ar  to  deter- 
mine the  value  of  any  theory  or  system,  but  since  that  rude  test 
has  been  so  drastically  applied  and  with  such  unmistakable  results, 
we  judge  it  opportune  to  restate  the  principles  which  serve  as  the 
basis  of  Catholic  education. 

First:  The  right  of  the  child  to  receive  education  and  the  cor- 
relative duty  of  providing  it  are  established  on  the  fact  that  man 
has  a  soul  created  by  God  and  endowed  with  capacities  which  need 
to  be  developed,  for  the  good  of  the  individual  and  the  good  of 
society.  In  its  highest  meaning,  therefore,  education  is  a  coopera- 
tion by  human  agencies  with  the  Creator  for  the  attainment  of  His 
purpose  in  regard  to  the  individual  who  is  to  be  educated,  and  in 
regard  to  the  social  order  of  which  he  is  a  member.  Neither  self- 
realization  alone  nor  social  service  alone  is  the  end  of  education, 
but  rather  these  two  in  accordance  with  God's  design,  which  gives 
to  each  of  them  its  proportionate  value.     Hence  it  follows  tliat 


74  Pastoral  Letter 

education  is  essentially  and  inevitably  a  moral  activity,  in  the  sense 
that  it  undertakes  to  satisfy  certain  claims  through  the  fulfilment 
of  certain  obligations.  This  is  true  independently  of  the  manner 
and  means  which  constitute  the  actual  process ;  and  it  remains 
true,  whether  recognized  or  disregarded  in  educational  practice, 
whether  this  practice  include  the  teaching  of  morality,  or  exclude 
it,  or  try  to  maintain  a  neutral  position. 

Second:  Since  the  child  is  endowed  with  physical,  intellectual 
and  moral  capacities,  all  these  must  be  developed  harmoniously. 
An  education  that  quickens  the  intelligence  and  enriches  the  mind 
with  knowledge,  but  fails  to  develop  the  will  and  direct  it  to  the 
practice  of  virtue,  may  produce  scholars,  but  it  cannot  produce 
good  men.  The  exclusion  of  moral  training  from  the  educative 
process  is  more  dangerous  in  proportion  to  the  thoroughness  with 
which  the  intellectual  powers  are  developed,  because  it  gives  the 
impression  that  morality  is  of  little  importance,  and  thus  sends  the 
pupil  into  life  with  a  false  idea  which  is  not  easily  corrected. 

Third:  Since  the  duties  we  owe  our  Creator  take  precedence 
of  all  other  duties,  moral  training  must  accord  the  first  place  to 
religion,  that  is,  to  the  knowledge  of  God  and  His  law,  and  must 
cultivate  a  spirit  of  obedience  to  His  commands.  The  perform- 
ance, sincere  and  complete,  of  religious  duties,  ensures  the  fulfil- 
ment of  other  obligations. 

Fourth:  Moral  and  religious  training  is  most  efficacious  when 
it  is  joined  with  instruction  in  other  kinds  of  knowledge.  It 
should  so  permeate  these  that  its  influence  will  be  felt  in  every 
circumstance  of  life,  and  be  strengthened  as  the  mind  advances  to 
a  fuller  acquaintance  with  nature  and  a  riper  experience  with  the 
realities  of  human  existence. 

Fifth:  An  education  that  unites  intellectual,  moral  and  re- 
ligious elements  is  the  best  training  for  citizenship.  It  inculcates 
a  sense  of  responsibility,  a  respect  for  authority  and  a  considerate- 
ness  for  the  rights  of  others  which  are  the  necessary  foundations 
of  civic  virtue — more  necessary  where,  as  in  a  democracy,  the 
citizen,  enjoying  a  larger  freedom,  has  a  greater  obligation  to 
govern  himself.     We  are  convinced  that,  as  religion  and  morality 


Education  75 

are  essential  to  right  living  and  to  the  pubHc  welfare,  both  should 
be  included  in  the  work  of  education. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  this  conviction  is  shared  by  a 
considerable  number  of  our  fellow-citizens  who  are  not  of  the 
Catholic  faith.  They  realize  that  the  omission  of  religious  in- 
struction is  a  defect  in  education  and  also  a  detriment  to  religion. 
r)Ut  in  their  view  the  home  and  the  church  should  give  the  needed 
training  in  morality  and  religion,  leaving  the  school  to  provide 
only  secular  knowledge.  Experience,  however,  confirms  us  in  the 
belief  that  instead  of  dividing  education  among  these  several 
agencies,  each  of  them  should,  in  its  own  measure,  contribute  to 
the  intellectual,  moral  and  religious  development  of  the  child,  and 
by  this  means  become  helpful  to  all  the  rest. 

The  Right  to  Educate 

In  order  that  the  educative  agencies  may  cooperate  to  the  best 
efifect,  it  is  important  to  understand  and  safeguard  their  respective 
functions  and  rights.  The  office  of  the  Church  instituted  by 
Ciirist  is  to  "teach  all  nations,"  teaching  them  to  observe  whatso- 
ever He  commanded.  This  commission  authorizes  the  Church  to 
teach  the  truths  of  salvation  to  every  human  being,  whether  adult 
or  child,  rich  or  poor,  private  citizen  or  public  official. 

In  the  home  with  its  limited  sphere  but  intimate  relations,  the 
parent  has  both  the  right  and  the  duty  to  educate  his  children ;  and 
he  has  both,  not  by  any  concession  from  an  earthly  power,  but  in 
virtue  of  a  divine  ordinance.  Parenthood,  because  it  means  co- 
operation with  God's  design  for  the  perpetuation  of  human  kind, 
involves  responsibility,  and  therefore  implies  a  corresponding  right 
to  prepare  for  complete  living  those  whom  the  parent  brings  into 
the  world. 

The  school  supplements  and  extends  the  educational  function 
of  the  home.  With  its  larger  facilities  and  through  the  agency  of 
teachers  properly  trained  for  the  purpose,  it  accomplishes  in  a 
more  effectual  way  the  task  of  education  for  which  the  parent,  as 
a  rule,  has  neither  the  time,  the  means  nor  the  requisite  qualifica- 
tions.    But  the  school  cannot  deprive  the  parent  of  his  right  nor 


Id  Pastoral  Letter 

absolve  him  from  his  duty,  in  the  matter  of  educating  his  children.. 
It  may  properly  supply  for  certain  deficiencies  of  the  home  in  the 
way  of  physical  training  and  cultivation  of  manners ;  and  it  must, 
by  its  discipline  as  well  as  by  explicit  instruction,  imbue  its  pupils 
with  habits  of  virtue.  But  it  should  not,  through  any  of  its  min- 
istrations, lead  the  parent  to  believe  that  having  placed  his  children 
in  school,  he  is  freed  from  responsibility,  nor  should  it  weaken 
the  ties  which  attach  the  child  to  parent  and  home.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  school  should  strengthen  the  home  influence  by  develop- 
ing in  the  child  those  traits  of  character  which  help  to  maintain 
the  unity  and  happiness  of  family  life.  By  this  means  it  will  co- 
operate effectually  with  the  parent  and  worthily  discharge  its 
function. 

Since  the  child  is  a  member  not  only  of  the  family,  but  also  of 
the  larger  social  group,  his  education  must  prepare  him  to  fulfil 
his  obligations  to  society.  The  community  has  the  right  to  insist 
that  those  who  as  members  share  in  its  benefits  shall  possess  the 
necessary  qualifications.  The  school,  therefore,  whether  private 
or  public  as  regards  maintenance  and  control,  is  an  agency  for 
social  welfare,  and  as  such  it  bears  responsibility  to  the  whole 
civic  body. 

While  the  social  aspect  of  education  is  evidently  important,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  social  righteousness  depends  upon  indi- 
vidual morality.  There  are  virtues,  such  as  justice  and  charity, 
which  are  exercised  in  our  relations  with  others ;  but  there  is  no 
such  thing  as  collective  virtue  which  can  be  practiced  by  a  com- 
munity whose  individual  members  do  not  possess  it  in  any  manner 
or  degree.  For  this  very  reason  the  attempt  to  develop  the  quali- 
ties of  citizenship  without  regard  for  personal  virtue,  or  to  make 
civic  utility  the  one  standard  of  moral  excellence,  is  doomed  to 
failure.  Integrity  of  life  in  each  citizen  is  the  only  sure  guarantee 
of  worthy  citizenship. 

Function  of  the  State 

As  the  public  welfare  is  largely  dependent  upon  the  intelligence 
of  the  citizen,  the  State  has  a  vital  concern  in  education.    This  is 


Education  77 

implied  in  the  original  purpose  of  our  government  which,  as  set 
forth  in  the  preamble  to  the  Constitution,  is  "to  form  a  more  per- 
fect union,  establish  justice,  ensure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide 
for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure 
the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity." 

In  accordance  with  these  purposes,  the  State  has  a  right  to  insist 
that  its  citizens  shall  be  educated.  It  should  encourage  among 
tile  people  such  a  love  of  learning  that  they  will  take  the  initia- 
tive and,  without  constraint,  provide  for  the  education  of  their 
children.  Should  they  through  negligence  or  lack  of  means  fail  to 
do  so,  the  State  has  the  right  to  establish  schools  and  take  every 
other  legitimate  means  to  safeguard  its  vital  interests  against  the 
dangers  that  result  from  ignorance.  In  particular,  it  has  both  the 
right  and  the  duty  to  exclude  the  teaching  of  doctrines  which  aim 
at  the  subversion  of  law  and  order  and  therefore  at  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  State  itself. 

The  State  is  competent  to  do  these  things  because  its  essential 
function  is  to  promote  the  general  welfare.  But  on  the  same 
principle  it  is  bound  to  respect  and  protect  the  rights  of  the  citizen 
and  especially  of  the  parent.  So  long  as  these  rights  are  properly 
exercised,  to  encroach  upon  them  is  not  to  further  the  general 
welfare,  but  to  put  it  in  peril.  If  the  function  of  government  is 
to  protect  the  liberty  of  the  citizen,  and  if  the  aim  of  education 
is  to  prepare  the  individual  for  the  rational  use  of  his  liberty,  the 
State  cannot  rightfully  or  consistently  make  education  a  pretext 
for  interfering  with  rights  and  liberties  which  the  Creator,  not  tlie 
State,  has  conferred.  Any  advantage  that  might  accrue  even 
from  a  perfect  system  of  State  education  would  be  more  than 
offset  by  the  wrong  which  the  violation  of  parental  rights  would 
involve. 

In  our  country,  government  thus  far  has  wisely  refrained  from 
jjlacing  any  other  than  absolutely  necessary  restrictions  upon  pri- 
vate initiative.  The  result  is  seen  in  the  development  of  our  re- 
sources, the  products  of  inventive  genius  and  the  magnitude  of 
our  enterprises.  But  our  most  valuable  resources  are  the  minds 
of  our  children,  and  for  their  development  at  least  the  same  scope 


78  Pastoral  Letter 

should  be  allowed  to  individual  effort  as  is  secured  to  our  under- 
takings in  the  material  order. 

The  spirit  of  our  people  in  general  is  adverse  to  State  monopoly, 
and  this  for  the  obvious  reason  that  such  an  absorption  of  control 
would  mean  the  end  of  freedom  and  initiative.  The  same  conse- 
quence is  sure  to  follow  when  the  State  attempts  to  monopolize 
education;  and  the  disaster  will  be  greater  inasmuch  as  it  will 
affect,  not  simply  the  worldly  interests  of  the  citizen,  but  also  his 
spiritual  growth  and  salvation. 

With  great  wisdom  our  American  Constitution  provides  that 
every  citizen  shall  be  free  to  follow  the  dictates  of  his  conscience 
in  the' matter  of  religious  belief  and  observance.  While  the  State 
gives  no  preference  or  advantage  to  any  form  of  religion,  its  own 
best  interests  require  that  religion  as  well  as  education  should 
flourish  and  exert  its  wholesome  influence  upon  the  lives  of  the 
people.  And  since  education  is  so  powerful  an  agency  for  the 
preservation  of  religion,  equal  freedom  should  be  secured  to  both. 
This  is  the  more  needful  where  the  State  refuses  religious  instruc- 
tion any  place  in  its  schools.  To  compel  the  attendance  of  all 
children  at  these  schools  would  be  practically  equivalent  to  an 
invasion  of  the  rights  of  conscience,  in  respect  of  those  parents 
who  believe  that  religion  forms  a  necessary  _part  of  education. 

Our  Catholic  schools  are  not  established  and  maintained  with 
any  idea  of  holding  our  children  apart  from  the  general  body  and 
spirit  of  American  citizenship.  They  are  simply  the  concrete 
form  in  which  we  exercise  our  rights  as  free  citizens,  in  con- 
formity with  the  dictates  of  conscience.  Their  very  existence  is  a 
great  moral  fact  in  American  life.  For  while  they  aim,  openly 
and  avowedly,  to  preserve  our  Catholic  faith,  they  offer  to  all  our 
people  an  example  of  the  use  of  freedom  for  the  advancement  of 
morality  and  religion. 

OUR  HIGHER  DESTINY 

The  adjustment  of  the  relations  which  we  have  considered  Is 
intended  to  further  our  welfare  on  earth.  That  mankind  through 
freedom  and  peace  should  advance  in  prosperity  is  a  large  and 


Our  Htcttkr  Destiny  79 

noble  aim.  But  it  is  not  the  ultimate  aim  of  human  existence; 
nor  is  it  the  highest  criterion  whereby  the  value  of  all  other  ends 
and  the  worth  of  our  striving  for  any  of  them  can  be  rightly 
determined.  "For  we  have  not  here  a  lasting  city,  but  we  seek  one 
that  is  to  come"  (Ileb.  XIII,  14).  We  look  for  "a  City  that  hath 
foundations;  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God"  {Ibid.  XI,  10). 
In  the  light  of  our  higher  destiny,  we  can  judge  and  surely  ap- 
praise the  things  which  men  desire,  which  they  hate  or  despise  or 
fear.  We  can  see  in  their  true  perspective  the  manifold  changes 
of  the  world,  and  in  their  right  proportion  its  losses  and  gains,  its 
achievements  and  failures.  We  can  understand  the  confusion,  the 
dismay  and  the  dread  of  what  may  come,  which  have  clouded  the 
vision  of  many.  For  these  are  the  final  result  of  the  vast  experi- 
ment whereby  the  world  would  have  proven  its  self-sufficiency. 
1^3  those  who  imagine  that  humanity  has  outgrown  the  need  of 
religion,  that  result  is  bewildering.  To  the  Catholic  mind  it  brings 
distress,  but  no  perplexity.  It  repeats,  with  an  emphasis  propor- 
tioned to  the  weight  of  disaster,  the  lesson  which  history  has  writ- 
ten again  and  again  as  the  meaning  of  such  upheavals. 

"They  shall  perish,  but  thou  shalt  continue;  and  they  shall  all 
rrow  old  as  a  garment.  And  as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  change  them, 
"  ind  they  shall  be  changed;  but  thou  art  the  self-same,  and  thy 
.years  shall  not  fail"  (Heb.  I,  11,  12 ;  Ps.  CI,  27,  28).  What  is  de- 
clared in  these  words  as  regards  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  is  like- 
wise true  of  our  human  afifairs.  And  the  more  fully  we  realize 
that  change  is  the  law  of  our  existence,  the  more  rearlily  should 
we  turn  our  thought,  with  humble  confidence,  toward  our  Creator 
and  His  eternal  law. 

As  we  look  upon  the  record  which  the  past  unfolds,  we  cannot 
but  note  that  it  is  filled  with  the  struggles  of  mankind,  with  their 
building  up  and  tearing  down,  with  searchings  for  truth  which 
often  end  in  illusion,  with  strivings  after  good  which  lea<l  to  dis- 
ai)pointment.  The  very  monuments  which  were  reared  to  cele- 
brate human  triumph,  remain  simply  to  tell  of  subsequent  down- 
fall. X'ot  rarely  the  greatness  of  human  achievement  is  learned 
from  the  vast  extent  of  its  ruins. 


i 


But  above  it  all,  standing  out  clearly  through  the  mists  of  eii 
and  the  grosser  darkness  of  evil,  is  One,  in  raiment  white 
glistering,  v^ho  has  solved  the  problem  of  life,  has  given  to  sorj 
and  pain  a  new  meaning,  and,  by  dying,  has  overcome  dej 
"Jesus  Christ  yesterday,  and  today;  and  the  same  forever"  (] 
XIII,  8). 

There  are  numberless  paths,  but  the  Way  is  one.     There 
many  degrees  of  knowledge,  but  only  one  Truth.    There  are  pll 
and  ideals  of  living,  but  in  real  fulfillment  there  is  only  one  LJ 
For  none  other  than  He  could  say :     "I  am  the  way  and  the  tr| 
and  the  life"  (John  XIV,  6). 

Pray,  therefore,  dearly  beloved,  that  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Chi 
may  abide  with  us  always,  that  we  may  walk  on  His  footstepJ 
justice  and  charity,  and  that  the  blessing  of  God  may  descj 
abundantly  upon  the  Church,  our  country  and  the  whole  Amerij 
people. 

Given  at  Washington,  in  Conference,  on  the  26th  day  of 
tember,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1919. 

In  his  own  name  and  in  the  name  of  the  Hierarchy, 

James  Cardinal  Gibbons, 
Archbishop  of  Baltimon 


Wm^'-l'^Wsm 


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